Internet ScamBusters Subscribers Share Their Favorite Stories About Internet Fraud
We want everyone to be aware of all the scams we've found on the Internet so check out these previous Web site scam winners. They might still be around!
Internet Fraud
"* * Employment Service. I found them in the Yahoo classifieds. I fell for the scam whole-heartedly when they promised job offers within 14 days or my money back. Well, being relatively new at the Internet game, I figured if they have a money back guarantee and an email address it would be safe.
"Well after three weeks I emailed them asking where my job offers were. No reply. The next week I sent a little more assertive letter... nothing.
"The next week I sent a letter stating I would turn them in to Scambuters and Yahoo if they did not reply.
"Well, apparantly they do not care. They have my money, and I have learned a valuble lesson. I only wish I had found your Web site before sending my money out for the thieves.
"So, beware of **ES, and others like them. I know I will be."
Bonny
"I visited the Yahoo-Classified-Employment ads seeking a work at home administrative job. I found this terrific ad placed by *** Enterprises for Administrative Help:
*** Enterprises; Clerical Work
Job posted by: Company
Industry: Other/Not Specified
Function: Administrative
Division: Personnel
Number of Openings: 10
Responsibilities: We are looking for honest and hardworking individuals to work at home doing one or more of the following; typing, word processing,transcription, administrative, data entry, and clerical work. Full time or part time work is available. No sales involved. Your main job will be preparing and editing original company papers, articles, and reports. This is an excellent opportunity for home typists.
Desired Requirements: Must have computer and printer. Software and materials are provided.
Minimum Requirements: Limited positions are available, if interested contact us immediately....
"This ad is a complete scam! Once contacted, they email you very specific information about the job: typing for their company which has an overload of orders and reports to process. They promise you will earn between $400 - $800 per week for 20 hours. Further emails to them produce even more specific and fictitious promises: no cost whatsoever after the initial $40 software fee. No selling. Guaranteed weekly income within 2 weeks of registration. Plus two 'references' to email - supposedly 2 people who have been working for them for 2 & 4 years.
"After thoroughly checking everywhere I could possibly think of, I sent my $40 money order registration fee. Here's what they sent: a xeroxed copy of how to scam others by placing classified ads! Yahoo has been notified but so far has continued to run the job ad in their Classifieds in nearly every city. I'd like to get the word out to others before anyone else falls for this sham! Of course, (they) no longer answer my emails."
Sherry
[ Editor's Note: We've got some great resources at our Scam Check Station which everyone should use to check out various companies before sending out any money. ]
"These clowns supposedly will put from $7500-$95,000 in a CD in your bank so you can get a compensating balance loan. If you sign up and don't give a credit card number they ignore you. If you give a credit card number you also must give your Social Security number. There is no way to contact them and no return address. These guys are collecting Social Security numbers and charging a $65 annual fee via credit card. Turn them over to the authorities."
Gary M.
"[This auction site] appears to be a scam. They charged my credit card and never delivered the product. After I 'won' the product, they sent an e-mail saying their supplier didn't come through and I had to wait 6 to 8 weeks. I did, then I never heard from them again. They removed their phone number from their site, there's no customer service e-mail listed (though it does exist), they never returned any of my e-mails or phone calls. Search of Deja News shows I am not the first one they screwed. I only lost $63 but they are blatantly ripping me and others off. To rub it in, the product I 'won,' MS Office97, is shown right there on the front page of their Web site every day."
Bill U.
For Urban Legends, click here.
Here are more Internet Fraud Examples.