How potentially dangerous can so-called Internet Scams be?

Question

...I've nearly fallen for one, and if it's Genuine, then I could be in trouble!

Answer 1

Internet scams can be very serious. If you give out vital personal information such as full name, address, bank account number, social security number, credit number, etc., you could wind up with a stolen identity. From there, the scammers can use your identity to buy anything from groceries to automobiles to real estate. YES! real estate! They can even get a legitimate U.S. identification card or driver's license using your name and the rest of your personal information. Your credit score will be shot to hell and you'll spend upwards of 7 - 10 years trying to clear your name of actions you didn't even commit. You could become liable for purchases made in the event you don't catch the identity fraud and report it.

I always live by this motto: if it sounds too good to be true, then it IS too good to be true! Never give out personal information to someone through email. Legitimate companies don't do business this way. If you're in doubt or have any questions whatsoever about a business offer, then CALL the company in question. If you get an email offer that looks like the real-deal and it has a link that directs you to a website that looks legitimate, again...don't be fooled. Businesses do not solicit through email this way.

There have been exactly these types of scams done over the years using banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo, to name just two. When the people have clicked on the links embedded in the email, they were directed to official looking sites with the real company logos and everything. The sites are very elaborate and have the *ring of truth* to them. But those sites are clones set-up by the scammers and all you need to do is input a few pieces of vital personal information and they've got you!

Don't be fooled. The best policy is to not accept email offers such as this. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

P.S. A friend of mine had her identity stolen in this exact manner. That was 5 years ago and she's still paying for the mess.

Answer 2

Well I know a few people that have nearly fallen for the scam that asks you to confirm your bank details and a couple of men that have been in contact with foreign women that want them to send money to visit the UK.
Your question is interesting,think you need to give us more detail so we can see what you might have been suckered into!

Answer 3

If they are like the Nigerian 401 scam where you get an e-mail that says you can get paid lots of money if you help somebody move funds, they can cost you 10's of thousands of pounds.

If they are phishing scams where you get directed to false sites (sites that aren't what they claim to be) you can end up revealing passwords etc which can also be dangerous

Answer 4

They can be very dangerous. Identity theft or simply draining your bank account of all funds!

How do you mean you've NEARLY falen for one, have you given out your bank details to an unknown party? If so, cancel that account and change your details. Your bank should have some way of changing account numbers!

Answer 5

Its very easy to get caught up in some of those scams it is seemingly a multi million business!

Answer 6

Please post full details of all your bank accounts - then watch what happens. The same goes for Internet scams. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

Answer 7

If you gave out bank or credit card info, tell the fraud section at once and change your cards and bank numbers. If you gave out personal info such as name, address, phown number etc tell your local police station!

Answer 8

its FATAL to your BANKACCOUNT, and above all your selfpride