Scam Alert: IF YOU CAN PROCESS 30 EMAILS PER DAY, THEN YOU’LL EARN $750 EVERYDAY!!

I hate these emails. People get duped into these scams all the time. But there are no jobs (or businesses) as email processors. These scams are on online version of envelope stuffing. Essentially you pay $25 to learn how to send the same email you responded to get other people to send the email to get even more people send $25 and so on. There is no actual product or business making it a scam and therefore something the Federal Trade Commission would take action against. If you participate, you could be liable too even though you’re a victim (ignorance is not a defense when duped in perpetuating a scam).

SCAM EMAIL:

Subject: IF YOU CAN PROCESS 30 EMAILS PER DAY, THEN YOU’LL EARN $750 EVERYDAY!!

Below, You Can Earn Online!!!

How many emails can you process a day?
If you can process 30 a day you’ll
earn $750.00 everyday straight in your Paypal Account!

You Are Guarant’eed to be Paid Instantly for Each Email
You Process! This is an easy, profitable opp0rtunity to earn
$1000’s every week.

SPECIAL PROMO: 50% DISCOUNT ON THE FIRST 50 SUBSCRIBER
CLICK Below ON THE PROMO CODE TO AVAIL 50% LESS

This is your Link:
Removed for your safety

Watch Out for Fake Census Takers

The Better Business Bureau issued a statement that said American’s should be cooperative to census takers, but be cautious. Scammers are notorious for pretending to be part of a legitimate group in order to gain sensitive information from unsuspecting victims. The Better Business Bureau gives this advice for determining a census taker from a scammer:

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home.  However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Top Scams of 2009

Better Business Bureau offices all around the country are sharing their top complaints for 2009. While they vary slightly in order, nearly all list the same types of scams. Here are the top scams of 2009:

• Advance Fee Loans
• Door-to-Door Sales
• Friend/Family in Distress
• H1N1 Flu Scams
• Home Improvement Scams
  
• Lottery and Fake Check Scams
• Job Hunter Scams
• Mystery Shopping
• Phishing E-mails
• Robocalls
• Teeth-Whitening Offers
• Weight Loss Pill Free Trial Offers

We should all resolve to be better consumers in 2010 because I doubt the scammers are resolving to be better people in the coming year.

Google Sues Scammers that Use Its Name and Logo

Back in September I wrote a blog post about The Truth About Google Money. Now Google is taking action by bringing lawsuits against companies that are using its name and logo to dupe people into thinking they can get paid by Google to do little more than sit around and type ads.

I’m surprised Google took so long to take action. On the other hand, many of these scams are able to stick close enough to the truth to slide by. For example, most “Google” programs “teach” buyers how to use affiliate programs and Google’s Adwords program to make money. This is a legitimate way to make money. The scam is that 1) its not a job, 2) Google isn’t hiring and in many cases isn’t the affiliate that’s paying, 3) you’re more likely to lose money than make money if you don’t know what you’re doing, and 4) the “Google” programs continue to charge month after month and can’t be contacted to cancel the charges.

Check out this post on Google’s Blog that provides information on how to spot scammers using the Google name.