Community Standards:

Scams on Popular Websites

A roadmap for how websites instruct their users on fraud

Nigerian Scams

These scams involve an overpayment for goods or services done after a series of electronic message exchanges. In order to avoid falling into this trip, here are 5 steps:

1. Free Money Doesn’t Exist. The old saying holds true. If its too good to be true it is.

2. Remember Community Rules. Do your homework. Is this an acceptable transaction in the website?

3. Run a background check if you can. Collect contact information and google them. Run a background check. Many people to people marketplaces offer them.

4. Don’t share with strangers. Your information is confidential. Don’t fall for direct contact phishing!

5. Look for “https” secure web connections when submitting your credit card. Verify those security badges and then look at the cart.

Facebook Scam – Help Center

Often your account is compromised in a scam. The scams often broadcast

to your trusted network of friends.

Here’s a recent Facebook Scam that will comment spam your friends.

Be wary of messages from friends. These scams can be more effective

phishing frauds than email phishing because your trusted network is

messaging you.

Charles Schwab Fraud

While not worrying about its own allegations of

fraud, Schwab must contend with customers whose

accounts are infiltrated through identity theft

schemes.

If in doubt, check with this Schwab fraud page

Care.com Scam

As a source for helping babysitters and nannies find

jobs, Care.com is susceptible to prospective

employee scams.

However, Craigslist is by far the leader in scams

because community members are on their own.

Care.com monitors its community for scams and

spam.

Dating Scams

Dating scams typically involve baiting members with

fake profiles.

Definitely avoid the lure of overseas profiles looking

for love.

Use your judgment as you start communicating with

a potential partner

Match.com Dating Scams

eHarmony Scams

Internet Scam Resources

Do your homework with the BBB

For more cutting edge scam research check here.

My personal favorite scam detector: SiteAdvisor

When you need the authorities: FBI Internet Fraud

As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus from

Hill Street Blues would say:

“Hey, let's be careful out there.”