Category: Fraud Friday

“But I didn’t order that!” Scam

Dear WAHFAQ, I got this email that I bought these bracelets, and I didn’t! These people are scammers! I don’t know if I should contact them or not. I’m afraid that if I do, it’ll dig me into a deeper hole. What do you think?   I think you are very wise 🙂 Yes, this is a typical “BUT I DIDN’T BUY THAT!” scam. Scammers and spammers will send out tons of emails like these, (moreso during the holidays!) hoping that someone will take the bait. The email is disguised as an invoice or receipt saying that you ordered something…

How to Avoid Charity Scams

Dear WAHFAQ, I am SO SICK of getting calls and solicitations from charities this time of year. And it’s not because I don’t want to donate…I do! It’s just tiring because it’s hard to figure out what is real. I’d prefer to donate to some of the smaller charities that don’t have the budget to advertise. Do you have any suggestions?   Holidays are ripe with scammers trying to tug on our heartstrings. Be very aware of people standing outside of stores, in parking lots, and yes, even at your front door. Wearing costumes, using props, donning fireman or police…

Have you Googled yourself lately?

Dear WAHFAQ, How can I make sure that my private info isn’t online? Thanks! You would be amazed at the amount of information that is available online. In just a few simple clicks you can find out so much information about a person including their family, where they live, and even their purchase history on Amazon or eBay. It’s creepy, so I recommend a few steps to make sure your personal information STAYS personal! First and foremost: Check all three major search engines: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Not only the main web results, but also look through their image and…

The ridiculous Craigslist furniture scam

Dear WAHFAQ, I’ve been selling items online, and keep getting emails like this one. What is the deal with these people? They can’t actually think that I’m going to fall for this? Hello,   I was just drafting this.Thank you for getting in touch with me,i’m fine with your price as listed and looking to buy your furniture but the only way I can is through a Check which I will mail to you through UPS I am willing to wait for the check to clear before the pickup is done. I will be responsible for the pickup and it…

Can I make money assembling products at home?

Dear WAHFAQ, The other day, I was at the doctor’s office and reading one of their magazines, when I saw an ad for assembling products from home. Is this something I could really do? How does that work?   Oh dear. This one is still around, eh? I know you’ve seen the ads. Somewhere in the depths of the “Classified” section, there it is, calling out to you,”Assemble Products at home. No experience necessary. Make $200-$2000 a week! You get giddy. Perhaps you’re a stay at home mom, or maybe you have a disability or something else that prevents you from…

Is stuffing envelopes a legit way to earn money?

Dear WAHFAQ, I heard that a long time ago, you could make money while stuffing envelopes at home. Does this job still exist? How can I get started?   Wow. This question is a blast from the past! Ok, I’ll admit it. When I was in college, I sent away $19.95 so that I could become a millionaire…stuffing envelopes at home. Surprisingly it didn’t work out the way I thought. (Note the sarcasm.) I did actually receive something for my money: a one page piece of paper that had been xeroxed a million times. It said that all I had to…

How do spammers get my email address?

Dear WAHFAQ, I had to finally close an old email account because I was getting too much Spam. How can I prevent this from happening with my new account? I’ve already gotten a few pieces of Spam and I just don’t want it to override my account like last time! Ah yes, the everlasting quest to stay one step ahead of the spammers! Feels like a game of whack-a-mole, no? I’m not really quite sure how “Spam” got its name. Sure there’s the meat, which we’ve all (ahem) enjoyed over the years…some more than others. But Spam in the online…

Is CashCrate a Scam?

UPDATE: As of April 1st 2019, CashCrate will be closing operations after 13 years in business. They will be sending their current registrants to their partner, Swagbucks, (also listed in The Work at Home Training Program). You can read their announcement here: CashCrate Closing Operations.   Dear WAHFAQ, Have you heard of Cashcrate.com?  Do you think it’s a scam?  I’ve been thinking about joining, but I’m not sure if it’s real or not.  Can you help me out? Ah, yes…Cashcrate.  They’re one of the more popular “get paid to try” companies out there. In short answer: No, they’re not a…

Is Next Job at Home a Scam?

Dear WAHFAQ, I came across this website for work at home job listings.  Have you heard of it?  Is it real or is it a scam:  www.NextJobatHome.com   NextJobatHome is a site that will send you way too many emails.  Once upon a time I signed up for them because I was curious too.  They stated that they would send legitimate job offers and I was really curious.  Well, it didn’t take too long for me to realize what they were doing! In each email they highlight a different work at home oppourtunity.  Notice, I said “opportunity” not “job“.  When you…

Why does someone from Belgium want to buy my TV?

Dear WAHFAQ, I have started cleaning out my attic and basement and garage and selling things online through Craigslist, eBay local, and OfferUp. Recently, I’ve gotten a ton of contacts from people overseas who want to buy my things. This seems a bit odd. I’m tempted to reply, just because I want to sell my stuff, but it just seems fishy to me. Do you have any thoughts on this? Ohhh, boy. Do I have thoughts! Congrats…you are being targeted for what is commonly called an “over-payment scam.” Several years ago, I was in a similar situation to you. My…