x10 Home Automation - Control Lights, Irrigation, Appliances

Online Home Businesses: Another Scam Reminder

I was recently reminded again of how far scam artists will go to separate people from their money by making use of the internet.

The scam I read about took advantage of people who were looking for new jobs (offline) and did this by posting their resume?s on the internet. There were two parts to the scams: One was to scan these resumes for any kind of personal information. In some cases they were able to find social security numbers published which then allowed them apply for credit cards under someone else?s name.

The other part involved actually calling the job seeker and posing as a potential employer. Their spin involved explaining they were interested in setting up an interview but needed some personal information to do credit checks and other background checks prior to the actual interview. Once this information was received, you guessed it, more problems.

Now some of this just seems like common sense. I for one would not be publishing my social security numbers anywhere on the internet. However, a phone call, while desperate for a job, from a company that sounded legitimate on the phone could perhaps persuade some people to part with their personal information.

My own personal experience with an online scam happened a number of years ago. I had a used car for sale and a friend recommended purchasing an online ad. This sounded like a good idea and did not cost much so I did it.

Response to the ad was not immediate but over time it did generate some interest with a few calls and some emails. Nothing real serious though until one gentleman sent me an email explaining he was real interested and wanted to know a few more details. I was pretty interested because it seemed like price was not an issue.

We began an email dialogue and after several exchanges came the ?pitch?: He was interested in purchasing the car but was unable to pick it up. Since he traveled considerably and was currently in the UK he would send a bank check for the full amount plus the cost to ship it. When the check arrived, I would then immediately deposit the check and write another to a shipping broker who would call to pickup the vehicle.

My initial reaction was that I?d sold the vehicle. At the time, my understanding of bank checks was that it was similar to a money order and was as good as gold. I didn?t really see how I could lose.

However, then doubts came into my mind. Why would someone from the UK, pay full price for my car ? without even seeing it or having someone else check it out, and then pay expensive shipping costs to send the car somewhere else? Initially I rationalized that he must be a businessman and that cost was not an issue. But then I thought why would he want my Chevy and do they not sell vehicles where he is?

I did some investigating on the internet and found this scenario all too common. It was a scam. I was initially angry that someone would do this to me, but then also scared that it could be done to me and that I could have lost both the car and the money paid for the shipping costs.

My story ended turned out ok because I stopped before I parted with the money. However, there are many stories of people who parted with their money before realizing it was wrong.

Did I have any special insight which kept me from losing the money? Probably not, except for the fact that it just did not feel right. I compare this online scenario to walking down a dark alley at night. If it does not look right and does not feel right then don?t do it ? at least not without some investigation or insight from someone else.

In many cases scammers ?get away with it? since people are not aware of their methods. At the time I was not aware bank checks could be bad. But they can also take advantage of emotions such as ?Entitlement?. I felt I deserved full price for the car, and he was the only one offering it.

Either way before parting with your money over the internet, do your research and make sure you are ok with it. It could still be legitimate and most likely a day or two will not hurt to check something out to be sure.

If you?re thinking of starting your home business using the internet, don?t let these stories from other victims? scare you away. People are scammed offline too.

There are many legitimate internet opportunities available for starting a home business.

Here are some resources on internet crime along with the FBI report I read about:

* http://www.ic3.gov/ * http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm * http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/ * http://www.fbi.gov/page2/july06/job_scams070506.htm

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Craig Ritsema operates a successful part time home business, is a Microsoft Certified Professional and resides in Michigan, USA. For more details visit his site at: http://www.part-time-work-at-home-opportunities.com or check out his software products at http://www.nextgenadmin.com

MORE ARTICLES:

Windows Macro - Create Macros To Automate Common Tasks
Want to automate and record mouse clicks and keystrokes? Want a program that records macros on Windows OS?

Automate, Automate, Automate
The key to running a successful and efficient online business is to automate as much of your work as possible:Automate your order-taking process..

Autonomic Controls Announces Touch Panel Software For Home Theater and Whole-House Audio
Autonomic Controls, the leading provider of media integration software for AMX, Crestron and HAI systems has announced a new product that enables remote access to digital music and video media using UMPC's and touch panels.

Ebay Auction Software: Automated Gold Mining For Auctions On Ebay And Elsewhere Using Software
You may already know how to grab great bargains on eBay and other auction websites because the titles are misspelled. In fact, you may spend a great deal of time hunting around for them, one by one. You may even know of a website or two that offers you a free list of these misspelt auction listings. Do you ever wonder if you're missing out on a bunch of them, just because it's too tedious to plow through them all by hand?

Motion Sensor Home Security Cameras
Many security cameras do not record well in the dark. This implies that a slinky presence can get away with any deed as long as the dark provides a shield. This is where a security camera with motion sensor comes in. The motion sensor triggers an automatic response as soon as it picks up a movement in its vicinity. Some of these cameras come equipped with floodlights that power up as soon as a motion is registered, flooding the area with light and catching the culprit in the act. This is further enhanced by the fact that a security camera with motion sensor often offers a connection to a TV or computer monitor. As soon as the sensor is triggered, images of the perimeter can be captured immediately.

AlterPoint and Compliance Spectrum Partner to Automate Network Compliance Controls across Multiple Regulatory Mandates
AlterPoint, Inc., a leading provider of open network management software, today announced that it has partnered with Compliance Spectrum, a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) solutions, to help enterprises ensure the continuous compliance of networks with multiple regulatory mandates. The agreement will pair Compliance Spectrum's in-depth policy controls solution with AlterPoint's automated network governance solution, enabling network stakeholders to proactively reduce compliance exposures and mitigate liability.

Automated Forex software review
For the time being automated trading in forex is the buzzword.

Control The Air Flow Of Your Home: Ceiling Fan Remote Control
If you market something that is effective but caters towards convenience then you are on a winner at the moment. People specifically buy convenient items for their household because they just want to unwind at home after a long and stressful day?s work. They do not want to be bothered with technical things anymore because their hectic lifestyle does not allow it. Take the TV remote control for example. Why get up to change the channel if you do not have to? They will pay anything for a little extra comfort, which is why the ceiling fan remote control has been such a hit!

Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) and Thornberry Ltd Announce Automated Interface between Healthcare Software Programs
Web interface enables SHP clinician-level analysis of NDoc® clinical point of care patient data. New automated web interface speeds the transfer of data from the NDoc clinical system to Strategic Healthcare Programs (SHP) software. Web services technology transfers OASIS assessments with clinician-level detail from NDoc to the SHP database.

Review Of Forex Killer - Automated Forex Trading Killer Review
We are all feeling the pinch today The word is out, the economy stinks and our "leaders' don't seem to have a clue

Allied Home Mortgage Implements Automated Compliance Controls Across Hundreds of Branches with ComplianceEase Solutions
One of the nations largest mortgage broker networks automates its compliance risk management with state-of-the-art technology.

Smarthome Hires TigerDirect Executive to Lead Home Automation Category: Bruce Matthews Joins Smarthome as Vice President of Marketing to
Smarthome, www.smarthome.com (http://www.smarthome.com), a SmartLabs, Inc., www.smartlabsinc.com (http://www.smartlabsinc.com), company and the world's leading provider of home automation products, has hired Bruce Matthews as vice president of marketing. Matthews joins SmartLabs from TigerDirect, www.tigerdirect.com (http://www.tigerdirect.com), where he was vice president of business development.

SmartLabs Introduces NetLinc - INSTEON Central Controller: Turns iPhone into a Home Automation Touch Screen
SmartLabs, Inc. announces the release of NetLinc, a plug-in web server that puts the power of controlling an INSTEON home automation network in the palm of your hand. This revolutionary new product allows communication from an iPhone, iPod touch, the internet or any mobile Wi-Fi / web-enabled PDA or cell phone to remotely control and set timers for INSTEON devices.

Skylink, Leader in Wireless Automation Products, Announces INSTEON Motion Sensor
Skylink unveils the release of the Skylink INSTEON Wireless Motion Sensor, a battery powered motion detection module for indoor and outdoor applications. It reliably communicates via INSTEON radio frequency (RF) to turn INSTEON compatible devices or scenes on and off. Skylink has assigned Smarthome (www.smarthome.com) as Master Distributor.