Graham
Staff member
This information is a website I visited tonight .. it is a site called http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/ setup by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading, and other consumer protection agencies around the country. This site was created to stem the success of scams across the country.
I am providing this information as a valuable read for everyone. Take of it what you will.
________________________________________________
WHAT IS A SCAM?
Scams are means of depriving you of your money. They give you nothing or little of value in return.
Scams prey on people's desire to increase their wealth or their need for health, safety, or beauty. Some scams can manipulate you without you being aware of it. Some will offer you things you neither want nor need.
Scammers play on your emotions. They are masters at the art of influence.
Scams are organised by unscrupulous individuals who sometimes use innocent and well meaning people to promote their activities. Scammers devise new and attractive concepts to hide what they are up to, but their schemes usually follow established steps which can give them away.
You will always lose when you are caught up in a scam, yet it is so easy to take the bait. And even when scammers get caught, they've done immeasurable harm by the time they are caught. Then, what comfort is it to you anyway? Your money's gone. In some cases what has been lost is far beyond monetary value. Scammers never compensate you.
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/scams.asp
_____________________________________________________________
AMAZING OFFERS AND DEMANDS
INTRODUCTION
Scammers will send you free goods, 'winning tickets' or invitations to entice you to go along with a scam. You might be asked to pay a joining fee or to buy something to 'win' a prize. Some scams use the postal system to sell products or get money by offering something that will never arrive.
"There's no such thing as something for nothing."
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers.asp
______________________________________________________
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
If you receive :
an invitation to participate in any type of lottery or sweepstake
uninvited gifts or goods from any source
an offer from overseas
a request to pay a fee to receive more 'benefits' from the same provider
an offer from an unregistered lottery
then you are probably dealing with a scam.
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers_wtlf.asp
___________________________________________________
HOW IT'S DONE
Scammers send out amazing offers and 'gifts' of 'winning tickets' and 'prizes' in exchange for an administration or entry fee, small enough to entice people to join. Scammers know that a number of people will send them money, either lured by the promise of gains greater than the initial outlay (the 'What have I got to lose?' reaction) or because the victim is driven by a sense of obligation after receiving 'something-for-nothing'.
In most cases, the victims of this type of scam pay money in exchange for nothing in return or for things of no value.
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers_hid.asp
_____________________________________________________
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Say 'No' or hold off
'No thank you, I always refuse unexpected prizes and gifts.'
'No, I never give my credit card or bank account details to strangers.'
Look further
Check with the consumer protection agency in your State.
Question
How did they acquire your contact details? Have you provided your details for a 'free offer' recently?
Decide
Don't write back. It only indicates you're interested and encourages more letters.
If it is anything other than a registered lottery or competition - say no!
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers_py.asp
__________________________________________
DANGEROUS MYTHS
Some people have mistaken beliefs which leave them more prone to scams.
One of them is the belief that all companies, businesses and organisations are legitimate and okay because they are all vetted and approved by the government or some other authority. That is not so. Consumer protection agencies can only do so much. While they are constantly on the look-out for dodgy operators, they can often take action only after scams are reported to them.
Excerpt from : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/myths.asp
__________________________________________
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE HERE TO HELP
Specific government agencies exist to help you protect yourself against scams, to investigate them and to take action against perpetrators. Each State and Territory government operates a consumer protection agency, usually called Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs. The main Commonwealth agencies are the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Full contact details for these agencies are available on this website (www.scamwatch.com.au). Remember, it's better to call them for information before you fall into a scam, and be safe, rather than to call them too late, and be broke. Money lost in scams is almost never recovered. Even if the perpetrators are caught and punished, that is of little use to you. Get early advice and be safe.
From : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/gov_help.asp
_____________________________________________________
I will leave you all with that valuable information. One never knows when they might need it.
I am providing this information as a valuable read for everyone. Take of it what you will.
________________________________________________
WHAT IS A SCAM?
Scams are means of depriving you of your money. They give you nothing or little of value in return.
Scams prey on people's desire to increase their wealth or their need for health, safety, or beauty. Some scams can manipulate you without you being aware of it. Some will offer you things you neither want nor need.
Scammers play on your emotions. They are masters at the art of influence.
Scams are organised by unscrupulous individuals who sometimes use innocent and well meaning people to promote their activities. Scammers devise new and attractive concepts to hide what they are up to, but their schemes usually follow established steps which can give them away.
You will always lose when you are caught up in a scam, yet it is so easy to take the bait. And even when scammers get caught, they've done immeasurable harm by the time they are caught. Then, what comfort is it to you anyway? Your money's gone. In some cases what has been lost is far beyond monetary value. Scammers never compensate you.
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/scams.asp
_____________________________________________________________
AMAZING OFFERS AND DEMANDS
INTRODUCTION
Scammers will send you free goods, 'winning tickets' or invitations to entice you to go along with a scam. You might be asked to pay a joining fee or to buy something to 'win' a prize. Some scams use the postal system to sell products or get money by offering something that will never arrive.
"There's no such thing as something for nothing."
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers.asp
______________________________________________________
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
If you receive :
an invitation to participate in any type of lottery or sweepstake
uninvited gifts or goods from any source
an offer from overseas
a request to pay a fee to receive more 'benefits' from the same provider
an offer from an unregistered lottery
then you are probably dealing with a scam.
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers_wtlf.asp
___________________________________________________
HOW IT'S DONE
Scammers send out amazing offers and 'gifts' of 'winning tickets' and 'prizes' in exchange for an administration or entry fee, small enough to entice people to join. Scammers know that a number of people will send them money, either lured by the promise of gains greater than the initial outlay (the 'What have I got to lose?' reaction) or because the victim is driven by a sense of obligation after receiving 'something-for-nothing'.
In most cases, the victims of this type of scam pay money in exchange for nothing in return or for things of no value.
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers_hid.asp
_____________________________________________________
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Say 'No' or hold off
'No thank you, I always refuse unexpected prizes and gifts.'
'No, I never give my credit card or bank account details to strangers.'
Look further
Check with the consumer protection agency in your State.
Question
How did they acquire your contact details? Have you provided your details for a 'free offer' recently?
Decide
Don't write back. It only indicates you're interested and encourages more letters.
If it is anything other than a registered lottery or competition - say no!
FROM : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/amazing_offers/offers_py.asp
__________________________________________
DANGEROUS MYTHS
Some people have mistaken beliefs which leave them more prone to scams.
One of them is the belief that all companies, businesses and organisations are legitimate and okay because they are all vetted and approved by the government or some other authority. That is not so. Consumer protection agencies can only do so much. While they are constantly on the look-out for dodgy operators, they can often take action only after scams are reported to them.
Excerpt from : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/myths.asp
__________________________________________
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE HERE TO HELP
Specific government agencies exist to help you protect yourself against scams, to investigate them and to take action against perpetrators. Each State and Territory government operates a consumer protection agency, usually called Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs. The main Commonwealth agencies are the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Full contact details for these agencies are available on this website (www.scamwatch.com.au). Remember, it's better to call them for information before you fall into a scam, and be safe, rather than to call them too late, and be broke. Money lost in scams is almost never recovered. Even if the perpetrators are caught and punished, that is of little use to you. Get early advice and be safe.
From : http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/scams/gov_help.asp
_____________________________________________________
I will leave you all with that valuable information. One never knows when they might need it.
