Email Scams You Should Avoid

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Email Scams That Could Cost You Money

Email scams abound. Every time I open my inbox they are there. Most of these scams sound believable and tempting but if you aren't careful it could cost you. Here are some common scams that you should be aware of. You can also learn how to detect a scam by using these email scam detection tips.

Email Scam - Please Verify Information
I got one the other day and it looked quite believable. It said that I need to verify my paypal account information. It even included official looking graphics from Paypal and if I was in a hurry, I might have believed it. It asked me to verify my email address, password, credit card number and bank pin number. Click here to see the email. If I had entered this information my bank account could have been drained once they logged into paypal to get the account number (I would have given them my pin number) and they could have charged anything on my credit card. This is commonly called phishing, where scammers are "fishing" for information. Common phishing scams also phish for Ebay customers. Companies will never ask you to verify your password or ask for credit card information on an email. Always make sure that you are using a secure Website before entering credit card information. To verify if you are using a secure connection look for a locked padlock on the bottom of your status bar and https in the url instead of http (https://www.paypal.com instead of http://www.paypal.com). More about secure servers

Email Scam - Someone is Using Your Credit Card
You receive an email that your credit card was used for a fraudulent purchase and they need to verify information. Recently, a massive amount of emails were sent that said that someone was using your credit card for a purchase at Best Buy. The email sounded very believable but when you clicked on the link that displayed "BestBuy.com/fraud_department.html" it went to "http://www.your-instant-credit-reporter.org/fraud.html". See this email here.

Email Scam - Share In the Wealth
These emails start off with someone desperately needing your help. They have money that is stuck in a country and need your help to get it out of that country to the United States and they will share a portion with you if you help them. This is commonly called the Nigerian email scam that has suckered in many people. The outcome is always the same - you spend thousands of dollars for bribes and other expenses and you don't see a dime. For a sample email of this scam, click here.

Don't be taken in on this email scam because you won't ever see a dime and because it is an overseas scam, there is nothing you can do to get your money back.

Email Scam - Work From Home
There are legitimate work-from-home opportunities but chances are they will not email you to get you to apply unless they are scams. The Internet Fraud Tips site has tips for detecting work from home scams.

Email Scam - Your Credit, Credit Card Offers and Quick Loans
When you get an offer to repair your credit, delete it. There is not a magic way to repair it, instead look up "credit counsellors" in your yellow pages and contact them. Also be very leery of credit card offers and quick loans. Many of them are designed to get your financial information or to make money from exorbitant fees. Stick with a reputable bank for financing.

Email Scam - Learn How To Protect Yourself
Learn how to detect if the email you just received is a scam or not. Tips for Detecting Email Scams

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