New FBI scam going around.

If you ever received a letter from the FBI on official looking letter head with the director of the FBI on it wouldn’t you think it was real. Maybe not but scam artists rely on the odds. If they mail out a thousand letters they may get back two responses and thats all they need. On the FBI’s scams and warnings page they give examples of how they are being used to target victims. Some of them involve claims of lottery winnings or of large inheritance (they will ask you pay the taxes and fees upfront). They also use letters and emails to extort money from the recipient claiming to be official FBI business. Feel free to contact the FBI by submitting an online inquiry, or at their contact page. The site also has scam alerts and a list of things to watch out for.

Freight company fraud

Well I Chris Cator the author of this blog has been ripped off big time. You would think that I would be good at sniffing out potential frauds but I got fooled. I use a company called Uship for deliveries and I accepted a bid from a company called ICON Worldwide (funny how the name is “ICON”). The shipment was to be delivered in 3 to 5 days and what a surprise it never showed up. I got excuse after excuse, and was told it will be there next week, and then next week, and then next week. Well $1800 dollars later I am out the shipping money and the $4500 dollars of products. I guess I figured that Uship screens the shippers, but I should have done my research. It is my money and I am the only one who can really protect it. I have disputed the charge with my credit card company but even if I get the $1800 back I am still out my products (for my website Indiasessentials.com). What can be done; nothing really. I submitted a complaint with Uship and maybe they will get rid of them as a member, but I am sure they will be off to a new scam. I guess it is easy for an outsider to detect a scam than someone who has a financial interest in the transaction. Well we will just keep trying.

Beware of get rich quick scams and pyramid schemes

The way these get rich quick scams work is by getting you to give them your money. Basically you buy their program and they will teach you how to rip other people off. Its kind of like the add in the paper that says send me 5 dollars and I will send you the secret to making a million dollars. The secret is to put a add in the paper saying send me 5 dollars and I will send you the secret to making a million dollars. Sadly the target market for get rich schemes and pyramid schemes are the poor, the elderly, or people who are already in debt. And if you want to make money on a pyramid scheme you should start one yourself, otherwise you are just making money for other people. These are examples of common schemes:

1. Buy real estate for pennies on the dollar.
2. Wealth building seminars.
3. Risk free stock market schemes.
4. Muli-level marketing (pyramid scheme).
5. Secret ways to make money that no one knows about.
6. Psychic tips or betting tips.

Here are examples of phrases to run from:

1. Get in at the top.
2. Send us money and we will help you make money.
3. Business opportunities “they”  don’t want you to know about.
4. I made $10,000 dollars in 30 days, you can to.
5. Make money from home.
6. Want to make millions working part time?
7. If I can do it so can you.
8. You don’t need any education.

Remember the scam protectors golden rule; if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is.

Are you good looking? Then modeling agencies want your money.

We have all heard the commercials “modeling agency coming to  the area”,  run away not towards! These  agencies  just want your money.  Here are  some of the  claims  that  these  Pseudo  modeling agency:

1. We are very selective on who we accept into the program. The truth is they actually accept most people since they are paid on commission.
2. We place our models in high paying ads. The truth is a small percent get jobs and they are usually low paying.
3. We offer a money back guarantee. The truth is that they may offer a guarantee but you probably have to get a lawyer to get it.
4. We can only use our photographers. The truth is that real modeling agencies require you to get your own photographs.
5. We are coming to your town because we need models. The truth is real modeling agencies do not have a shortage of models, and you have to work hard and fight for jobs.
6. We require a payment from you in advanced. Real agencies get paid when you get a job.

Remember modeling is very hard work, and although you can get discovered in areas outside New York and Los Angeles it is very rare. If modeling is your true passion then be prepared to move to one of these cities and starve for a while.