How to Spot Email Scams and Avoid Internet Hoaxes

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By srnewman
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Free Money???

Be aware of fraud email hoaxes,“MAKE MONEY” and “Get Rich Quick” scams that can damage your computer, steal your identity, mess up your credit report and rob you of your hard earned money! Fraud email messages that can be so compelling to open and read are often sent to your email account. Even if you recognize the email address, what may seem harmless and friendly can cause serious damage to your laptop or desktop computer just by opening an attachment that might include a nasty virus. Computer viruses no longer discriminate between Macintosh and PC computers so even if you are using a mac you will need to monitor incoming email messages and attachments before opening them. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you emailed everyone in your email address book that important email message from Bill Gates with a chance to make money.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Get Rich Quick Resistance
Antivirus Software

Step 1

Avoid Opening EMAIL SPAM

A few common internet scams that have been emailed in mass quantity include the UK international lottery, the Nigerian 419 foreign bank plea for assistance and a bunch of phishing scams that almost seem legit. There are so many hoaxes and scams in circulation and new spam mail messages are sent and forwarded to millions of email accounts on a daily basis. If you can help it... AVOID OPENING EMAIL SPAM!
Step 2

Bernie Madoff

Considering the economy these days, a home business opportunity to make money online can seem like a job idea, especially when employment is hard to find. A few common key phrases used in most internet fraud email scams and hoaxes to watch out for:

“GET RICH QUICK!” Always be suspicious of those 3 words, or anything in bold CAPITAL letters for any type of home business opportunity that shouts, “MAKE MONEY FAST!!” These jobs do not exist.

If an email message offers to sell you a report which will supposedly give you inside secrets to making money, or any type of easy to sell product that can make you rich while you work from home, keep in mind that the only common goal they all have is to separate you from your money. Take it from Bernie Madoff, these plans do not work out.
Step 3

Internet fraud and phishing can damage your credit report

Avoid internet fraud, and phishing scams by following these easy rules:

1) Be suspicious of anything that shouts something like…“SEND THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW”

2) Anything that promises to make you rich and then asks for your credit card. DO NOT give out your credit card or Social Security Number when asked for it in an email message.

3) Any email messages that may seem to come from a legitimate business source such as ebay or paypal, that asks you to “verify your account” and asks you for your password. Businesses do not ask you to verify your password, social security number or credit card information via email. Most often this is probably a phishing scam.