Post by Scambuster on Nov 16, 2009 17:35:15 GMT -5
Please feel free to add on anything that may help prevent someone from falling into the hands of these people.
Rule of thumb.. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.
When ever you are looking for a loan online, always do your research.
- If you are responding to an ad, always ask if there are any "up-front" fees. Big red flag if they say yes. It is illegal in Canada & US for any loan company or lending firm, to ask for upfront fees.
-United Kingdom loan scams, will also tell you that you need to send Transfer fee's to them, this is scam. Once you send this money (and they always ask you to send it via Western Union or money Gram), they will tell you there is a tax, that you need to pay before you get your loan.
Never agree to send any money via Western Union, or Money grams.
-Legal loan companies & lending firms, NEVER use Western Union or money grams.
-Western Union & Money grams can not be traced. ANYONE can pick them up, as long as they have tracking number, know security question & answer.
If the email you are responding to, is from a free email service such as Yahoo, hotmail, gamil.. this should be a red flag, as legal loan/lending companies ALWAYS have a business email.
Ask for legal paperwork for your lawyer to look at, if they refuse, or tell you they will be sent out after payment is received.. RED FLAG
Get the business name & phone number to the company you are dealing with.. Do your homework, look for it online and search for the phone number on line, if you can not find any information, it is fake, also watch for fake websites. if there is no contact information on the website you see, or if it looks very unprofesional, it is most likely fake.. Keep any information the company gives you, like names, numbers, emails, forms they send, as this is all evidence to report the crime against you.
Some scammers have found a new way to make their prey feel at ease. this being Email transfers through you bank.. REMEMBER IT IS ILLEGAL TO ASK FOR UP FRONT FEE'S. they will tell you to pay your up-front fee at a bank, but they will give you a list of banks they deal with, and you are required to open an account at one of those banks. They will tell you that you will be able to trace the funds this way. Once you open the account, they tell you to set up a payment for them, through email money transfer, they will give you the question, and answer that you need to give.. HOWEVER. PLEASE be advised, that once you make a payment this way, it can not be traced, once the money is taken from your account, and you will not get it back, as this money can be deposited into any account as long as they know the secret answer.
Rule of thumb.. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.
When ever you are looking for a loan online, always do your research.
- If you are responding to an ad, always ask if there are any "up-front" fees. Big red flag if they say yes. It is illegal in Canada & US for any loan company or lending firm, to ask for upfront fees.
-United Kingdom loan scams, will also tell you that you need to send Transfer fee's to them, this is scam. Once you send this money (and they always ask you to send it via Western Union or money Gram), they will tell you there is a tax, that you need to pay before you get your loan.
Never agree to send any money via Western Union, or Money grams.
-Legal loan companies & lending firms, NEVER use Western Union or money grams.
-Western Union & Money grams can not be traced. ANYONE can pick them up, as long as they have tracking number, know security question & answer.
If the email you are responding to, is from a free email service such as Yahoo, hotmail, gamil.. this should be a red flag, as legal loan/lending companies ALWAYS have a business email.
Ask for legal paperwork for your lawyer to look at, if they refuse, or tell you they will be sent out after payment is received.. RED FLAG
Get the business name & phone number to the company you are dealing with.. Do your homework, look for it online and search for the phone number on line, if you can not find any information, it is fake, also watch for fake websites. if there is no contact information on the website you see, or if it looks very unprofesional, it is most likely fake.. Keep any information the company gives you, like names, numbers, emails, forms they send, as this is all evidence to report the crime against you.
Some scammers have found a new way to make their prey feel at ease. this being Email transfers through you bank.. REMEMBER IT IS ILLEGAL TO ASK FOR UP FRONT FEE'S. they will tell you to pay your up-front fee at a bank, but they will give you a list of banks they deal with, and you are required to open an account at one of those banks. They will tell you that you will be able to trace the funds this way. Once you open the account, they tell you to set up a payment for them, through email money transfer, they will give you the question, and answer that you need to give.. HOWEVER. PLEASE be advised, that once you make a payment this way, it can not be traced, once the money is taken from your account, and you will not get it back, as this money can be deposited into any account as long as they know the secret answer.