Reports of frauds, deceptions and scams keep appearing, weekly even daily, on
major news channels and newspapers. Some of these frauds seem just too big and remote to be of immediate, direct relevance to our daily lives. But, we will eventually pay for the consequences and damages, in taxes, costs of goods and services, regulations, copy-cats etc.

I hope we can collect, in one thread, frauds and scams, reported or heard. We must become more aware and more educated to guard against frauds and scams
which impact upon the health, well being, and wealth of ourselves and our families.

For Mac users watch out for the "MacKeeper" outfit https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3297970?start=0&tstart=0

Had an email purporting to be from British Gas regarding my Homecare contract, despite having all my details correct, including my account number, it did not look right because it was suggesting that my contract was due for renewal which it isn't. I rang British Gas who confirmed it was not theirs. Another phishing email. Whoever is responsible, I hope the Easter Bunny craps all over their Easter Eggs before they get them!:o)

A General Rule:

Just do a mouse pointer 'hover' over the e-mail's links. As you see the URL address of the link, it should give you a good indication of credibility.

Here's the link's URL address taken from a scam e-mail from PayPal:

Important Notice

Security Alert: On Thursday, 10th March 2016 12:35 GMT, we noticed an attempt to sign in to your account from an unrecognised device in United Kingdom.

We require you to complete our account verification process in order to restore access to get started click the link below.


PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON IT!!!!!!

Validate Account

A hover over the link shows a URL address of: http://ecoo3.eu/admins

Qn: What on earth has that address got to do with PayPal?
Ans. Not a thing! So the e-mail must surely be a scam! Agreed?

Thanks for the tip!

A Google search for that website would take you to a Polish domain. I haven't gone into the website but it looks hazardous!

Thanks for that ExecLine

Have I ever been 'done' with a scam?

Yes.

I was in the middle of ordering up a product for my wife from an online 'too good to be true' Free Trial ladies make-up deal, when she shouted to me,

"Come on! Your dinners getting cold!"

So I rushed things through and completed the transaction and duly did as she ordered.

Later, I found out, how I'd actually signed up for a monthly subscription scam. It was an utter bugger to get out of! What I should have done at the time, was notice the Terms and Conditions of the Trial which told you on a pop-up page how to cancel the Trial and which had to be done within just a few days. I missed the cancellation opportunity and got hit for 2 months of subscription fees, costing a little over £400.

Was it actually a scam?

Definitely. However the Terms and Conditions were there to be read, albeit somewhat hidden away. This meant, I had only myself to blame and the Credit Card wouldn't refund my money becasue I hadn't returned the goods and cancelled the subscription all according to the T&Cs. The refund would have cost the credit card company the £400. I guess they just didn't feel confident enough to deduct the money from the other amounts due to the merchant.

There are reams of stuff on internet forums about subscription scams.

Heres' a typical story in the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2945236/Bank-warns-free-skin-cream-costs-80-month-Thousands-mistakenly-signing-subscriptions-registering-free-samples-online.html

Does anybody know anything about a company called International Mergers? I have been contacted by them regards compensation regarding rubbish shares I invested in many moons ago. The offer sounds too good to be true hence I'm very wary. Any information would be gratefully received.

I've not heard of them maggie but whatever you do, don't give them any of your bank details or send them money. If they are genuine they will send you a cheque if you are entitled to anything!

Thanks for that. Have already told them I will only accept a cheque . They seemed happy with that but are sending me documents I am meant to complete via e-mail and I don't think I should open the e-mail despite the fact I am curious to see what's on them.

.

Just had an email purporting to be from MoneyAM, regarding a change of price plans. It has all the hallmarks of a phishing email so beware if you get the same!

Seems that the Moneyam membership list has been compromised!!!! email received as below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MoneyAM Customer support / sender was: marco844 @ alice it

This is to inform you about a change in tariff plans. Now you have access to
more progressive level of services. Please see attach file for detailed
depiction of new feature as well as access to full package of new options.



With best regards, MoneyAM Team

09/21/2016

Some comment from MoneyAM on the above would be helpful.
2517

Yes, that's the one! Delete it.

They are looking into it George, it is a phishing email.

Cheers Kim.
2517

Inadvertently I opened this on my iPad, any advice as to what i should do please? I've never used it for banking or anything financial, so think it should be alright.

GJ

As you can see, The Hepcat also opened the e-mail too, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to tell us it had the same message as previously posted in the prior posting.

It's usually not too dangerous to open the e-mail.

It's the opening of the 'attachment' which comes with it, that's the problem. When you open this, that's when you actually spring the malware or virus into execution for it to do its dirty work.

Hope that helps.

Comments from others are welcomed please, if you feel my take on this incorrect.