Scams

From WIN-ipedia - information and strategies about winning

A scam is a scheme specifically designed to separate you from your money. Many Scams are blatently obivous, however, some are quite sophisticated in nature, and can be difficult to spot; if you let your guard down and think you won't be fooled - then you could be the next gullable victim.

Scams come in many forms: plausable sounding premium rate competitions, foreign sweepstakes and lotteries, get-rich quick schemes and fake health cures are some of the more common ones... but the variety and number of scams keeps increasing.

Scam artists will:

offer you something for nothing, such as...
- telling you you have won a major prize in a draw or a lottery;
- an exclusive entry to a scheme that's an easy, surefire way to make money;
- a way to gain thousands of pounds by helping them get millions out of their country;
- the chance to join an investment scheme that will make you huge amounts of money.
contact you without being asked; by phone, email, post or occasionally in person
want you to think of them as your friend
have slick, professional leaflets and letters
be persistent and persuasive
rush you into making a decision

Most often, Scam artists will ask you to:

send money up front - an administration fee or tax, the list is endless but it's always a ruse to get you to give them money
give them your bank, credit card or other personal details
ring an expensive premium rate number (all UK premium rate numbers start with 090)
buy something to get your prize.

[edit]

How not to lose

Remember the simple rule: "If it seems too good to be true - it is!"

Don't send any money or give any personal details to anyone until you've checked that they are genuine, and talked to a professional or family and friends.
Be wary of any 'company' or individual who:
- asks you to send money straight away;
- gives you only a PO box number as their address;
- asks you not to tell anyone about the deal!
Report any suspicions you have...

[edit]