Few of us are rich. Do not gamble with what little you have. In some cases we have no choice. We invest our money now with our eyes on the future. Stock markets and economies are volatile. The real gambling takes place in more than casinos. When greed comes into play we seem to lose our ability to think straight. There are countless ways that one might defraud us in person. My concern is the Internet. Greed has become the key in many popular web-based scams.
You just won the lottery! Do you remember actually entering it by the way? I thought not. To start with no company runs their own lottery. Microsoft and others have enough funds without having to resort to selling lottery tickets. Foreign lotteries are illegal under federal law for your information. Getting paid to send emails to your friends will not get you any freebies either. These are all scams and should be sent straight to your spam folder.
Many people are looking for a job. The opportunities on the web are nonexistent. Offers abound for stuffing envelopes, secret shoppers and other jobs that seem too damn easy. These jobs do not exist in cyberspace or in real life. These come-ons are proffered by those seeking to steal your identity. They ask for more personal information than any real employer ever would. Seriously, how many jobs require you to pay for the privilege of applying?
Your account has been closed. Just click the link provided, fill in some data and all will be well. Sure these emails look real and the sites seem legitimate. In reality your account, be it eBay, your bank or any other, is just fine. If you let fear take over the scam artists win every time. Log in to your account and see for yourself that there is no problem. No legitimate company does business in this way. Call your bank if you need assurance.
Fake lotteries are not the only method of getting your money. Selling products or accepting packages from strangers can also get you into hot water. The last thing you want is to be arrested for accepting stolen goods. Whether you get it as part of a "lottery" or as "extra payment" that check in your hand is a fake. Though it looks real, if you cash it, you will owe your bank a bundle. Only criminals send money and ask for some portion to be wired overseas.
I have laid out the basic facts of some of the more common scams. Put aside greed and fear. Use the common sense God gave you and do not be a victim. If it seems too good to be true it is. It always is! These SOBs from around the globe count on our fear and greed to hook us. Some are better than others when creating their particular scam. There are many variations on only a few themes. Do due diligence the first time and you will have no regrets. Magical thinking never makes what was never real to begin with suddenly appear.
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