Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money. They often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information. Or that there’s a virus on your computer. Or someone in your family had an emergency. They might say you’re in trouble with the government. Scammers say there’s a PROBLEM or a PRIZE. So the name and number you see might not be real. They use technology to change the phone number that appears on your caller ID. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government. Scammers PRETEND to be from an organization you know. Rent-to-Own, Lease-to-Own, Layaway, and Buying Over Timeįour Signs That It’s a Scam 1.
How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams.Extended Warranties and Service Contracts.
Some hoaxes are obviously fiction to the common skeptic, such as the recent " Giant Spiders Released from DNA Laboratory in Missouri." Others may be easier to believe such as scary computer viruses that wipe out your hard drive.Īs a result, several anti-hoax websites have popped up that seek to monitor and debunk the continuing flow of Internet hoaxes and rumors. Remember the kidney heist? Or the headlight gang killer? Once shared among teenagers at late-night slumber parties, these stories live on through email, "news" stories and social media sites that continue to dupe new generations.
With the advent of the Internet, urban legends, hoaxes and rumors have exploded.