Sussing out Scams - Video script
Don't be scammed! Emma Roberts reveals some dangerous scams that are circulating the web
Don’t be scammed! Emma Roberts reveals some dangerous scams that are circulating the web
The internet can be a great place to bag a bargain, but it can be just as easy to fall victim to a scam. This quick guide will help you stay scam-savvy so you can spot the fraudsters who are out for your cash.
Tickets
With summer in full swing, many of us are heading off to festivals, concerts or the theatre but how can we be sure that the tickets we buy online are genuine?
You should always check that the seller is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers. But ideally, you should try to buy tickets from well established websites, such as ticket master or directly from the venue.
Holiday
A last minute bargain holiday may seem tempting but always be cautious before giving away your bank details. Some scams con people into buying a holiday that simply doesn’t exist or selling a holiday vastly different from the one that was advertised. To avoid being stung by this scam, make sure that the website is a member of an authorised travel company, such as ABTA.
Charity
This nasty scam targets people who think they are making a donation to a charity. The fraudsters send emails from fake charities asking for contributions but the money goes straight into their pockets. Charities never email asking for bank details, so if you get an email like this report and delete it.
Jobs
With a record number of us trying to find jobs, some scammers have cashed in on fake recruitment websites. These sites offer to revamp CVs or offer interview training for a fee. The problem is that, you don’t ever get the training but they get to walk away with your cash. Always read the small print of recruitment websites and be wary of any which charge for their services.
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Just had a new (at least new to me) scam text. Was supposed to be from my mobile provider 'o2' saying I'd sent almost 5000 texts & used 3000 minutes of calls last month. So I phoned my service provider first and was told not from them. So did not answer the text as some text's could cost upto £4.50 each. Nice work if you can get it. As I'm retired, my fingers would not cope with all those texts. When would I find time to sleep?
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I totally agree with ElJay - I am sure there are retired senior civil servants or military leaders that would be only too glad to donate their time. My mother used to work unpaid for "Help the Aged" in one of their shops. Then one day a salaried "regional manager" materialised out of nowhere. arrived in a company-car and started lording it over the staff. "You cannot sell that stuffed toy because it is home-made and therefore doesn't carry a kite-mark!" and "you can no longer wash donated clothes at your homes, it must be done by a bona-fide laundry company and paid for out of income". All of that was bad enough, but then she started setting revenue "targets" - to unpaid staff - can you believe that? My mother, never short of the right word for any occasion, used a few colourful metaphors to suggest just what she could do, anatomically, with her "targets". After a lengthy round of applause from staff, she (and they) walked out, never to return. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when she reported that back to "HQ"...!!! It was a very sad day when charities turned into businesses - it all started with allowing them to advertise on TV - and it has been a slow decline ever since. Sorry for going "off topic".
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Well I consider most Charities to be scams anyway, why would I pay for the CEO to collect 120k a year (I do know a famous charity as an example and it'll be even more now considering interest over many years). If they collected a normal wage then fine but I'm not making others rich with donations. Better off supporting local reputable charities that people work for giving their time for free.
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29 July 2010