+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: In From ScamBusters:

Hybrid View

  1. #1

    Default In From ScamBusters:

    <>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><> ~<>
    How Scam Charity Victims End Up on a Sucker List -- And What
    You Can Do to Avoid This
    <>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><>~<>~<><> ~<>

    Have you ever given money to a scam charity, only to discover
    not only that your money has gone to an unworthy cause but
    also that other crooks seem to have got wind of your
    generosity and are after you for a slice of the action?

    Or maybe you know someone who is convinced they've really won
    a lottery payout this time, even though they previously fell
    for exactly the same sort of scam and lost a small fortune
    trying to collect it.

    If either of these types of incidents applies, chances are
    that you (or your friend or relative) have your name on a
    sucker list.


    Sucker List?

    Time for a quick history lesson:

    Back in 1941, a movie called Sucker List told how fraudulent
    racetrack touts would repeatedly target the same victims with
    phony race tips that would entice them into betting bigger and
    bigger sums until they were financially cleaned out.

    Even earlier, in 1923, an investment con used a similar
    approach, offering to buy a victim's stock in a certain
    company for way more than its value.

    The catch was that the "buyer" would only purchase say 1,000
    shares, while the victim only owned 100. Then, "by
    coincidence" the victim would get an opportunity to buy the
    900 shares he needed from a mystery seller at a knockdown
    price.

    He'd buy, then go back to his "purchaser" to complete the
    deal. But suddenly, the "purchaser" would only deal for 2,000
    shares. And so on.

    You get the picture. This con was known as "reloading" and it
    was based on the same idea of repeatedly returning to the same
    victim for more money.

    Sad to say, decades later, this type of repeat crime has
    become increasingly common, based on the notion that consumers
    who have been tricked once are likely to fall for another
    scam. So their names go onto a sucker list.

    These lists are traded and exchanged between criminals. And
    they often contain a startling amount of detail -- not just
    your name, address and phone number, but perhaps also details
    of your savings and your ability to lay your hands on more
    cash if needed.

    If you've ever been seriously scammed, chances are your name
    could be on one.


    How Do You Know if You're on a Sucker List?

    You'll probably know if you (or a friend or relative) are on a
    sucker list by the volume of solicitations received every day.

    We all get spaham (misspelled intentionally), junk mail and
    telemarketing calls, but if you get the sort that seek money
    -- from scam charity groups, lottery organizations, Nigerian
    bankers and questionable health product vendors -- all the
    time (maybe dozens a day), then you are probably being
    targeted.

    Perhaps not surprisingly, older folks, particularly those in
    their 80s and 90s, are key targets for repeat scam charity
    requests and other money-spinning tricks.

    Internet news pages are littered with distressing stories of
    people who discovered their aged parents have been handing
    over money left, right and center for all manner of
    non-existent causes or rubbish products.

    Worse still, in some cases, the victims refuse to accept
    they've been tricked and become secretive as another scam
    charity or lottery win appears on the horizon.

    (If you are interested to hear a lottery scam artist at work,
    listen to this recording from the Seattle Times.)

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...Vo6l7G_Y46LB8w

    Unfortunately, once you (or someone dear to you) get onto a
    sucker list, there's little you can do to get off it other
    than by persistently ignoring the scam charities and others to
    the point where the crooks lose interest in you.

    But there are a number of actions you can take to try to
    ensure that happens or that your/their name doesn't get onto a
    sucker list in the first place.


    How to Avoid Getting on a Sucker List:

    * You haven't won a lottery or inherited a fortune, so don't
    respond to claims you have. You can find more on lottery
    scams and on secret fortunes, better known as Nigerian scams,
    below.

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...HQF2XTXzS9N3fw

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...2OiUQjbC7fk6.Q


    * To avoid scam charity groups, check out any organization
    seeking donations. For lists, visit the Wise Giving Alliance
    or the American Institute of Philanthropy or check if they are
    licensed with your state.

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...CZQkfiAjedLt0Q

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...7V2co4dBY3Y0DQ

    You can also see if the organization is registered as a 501
    (c)(3) charity with the IRS.

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...SyfbL9899QWxBQ

    For more on charity scams, see these Scambusters issues.

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...JOA9uCfNI6UgEw

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...37CyLw5nwgUS3A


    * Report bogus mail solicitations to the Postal Inspection
    Service.

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...wcNK8vDqBOIWvA


    * Ensure you are registered on all mail and telemarketing
    opt-out or do-not-call lists. See this Federal Trade
    Commission (FTC) site for more info.

    http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=76C...RuVcDwaPvwdmbw


    * Install anti-spaham software on your PC or set up a spaham
    filter in your email program. If you don't know how to do
    this, seek advice from a computer-knowledgeable person.


    * If you are truly being bombarded, consider changing your
    email address and/or phone number, and keep them
    confidential/unlisted.


    * Above all, do not respond to any solicitations for money
    that come from someone you don't know.

    If you suspect a friend or relative may be on a sucker list
    used for charity scams, bogus lotteries and other cons, you
    may get a hint from their behavior.

    If they seem to be secretive or to be regularly acquiring
    magazine subscriptions, online health medications, trinkets or
    other novelties, or withdrawing or spending large sums of
    money, tactfully ask about them.

    Whether or not this is happening, take the time to explain
    about charity scams and other tricks and tell them about
    sucker lists. They may not want to hear (and certainly won't
    want to be labeled as "suckers") but persist.

    In the case of close relatives who continue to hand over money
    for dubious causes, you might be able to persuade them to let
    you review their mail and to not make payments without
    consulting you.

    In limited cases, it is possible to take legal action for what
    is called conservatorship or durable power of attorney, which
    enables you to monitor or control their spending. You should
    speak to an attorney about this.

    The sad thing is that some people, who might otherwise
    consider their lives to be dull, enjoy the "excitement" of
    chasing elusive lottery wins (that the rest of us know are
    bogus).

    A widely-practiced, sneaky trick, for example, is to tell a
    victim they've won a lottery but for an additional payment
    they'll be entered for an even bigger prize.

    Of course, they "win" that too and can then go on to the next
    level for another fee. And on it goes, with victims borrowing,
    maxing their credit cards and even mortgaging their homes in
    their attempt to land the big one.

    Don't let that be you -- or anyone you care about.

    The reality is that you don't have to be a sucker to get on to
    a sucker list or become the repeated target of a charity scam.
    But you do have to work darned hard to escape. However, you
    can do it!

    But better yet, by subscribing to Scambusters and by telling
    people you care about to subscribe as well, you can learn
    about scams BEFORE you become a victim. That's a much better
    approach.

    That's all for today -- we'll see you next week.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    West Tennessee
    Posts
    2,251

    Default

    Hate to say I don't PERSONALLY give to any charity. I will give anonymously to quite a few or I give of my time.

    I don't send $10 over a text either!!
    I don't give to celebrity charity events.
    I don't give to Presidential charity calls.
    I rarely even advertise my business any more. Anyone can see an ad and then call you for more ads!!

    Any more I don't trust any charity unless it's been done thru our church or it's me giving to the person DIRECTLY!!

    Too much room for other things to be done with my money other than the person in need getting it.
    Good fishing technique trumps all.....wish I had it.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. In From ScamBusters!
    By LadyFisher in forum Sound Off
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-30-2009, 05:37 AM
  2. In from ScamBusters:
    By LadyFisher in forum Sound Off
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-19-2009, 12:32 AM
  3. New from ScamBusters
    By LadyFisher in forum Sound Off
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-29-2009, 01:16 PM
  4. In from ScamBusters:
    By LadyFisher in forum Sound Off
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 08-10-2009, 01:54 PM
  5. In From ScamBusters
    By LadyFisher in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-08-2006, 08:27 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts