Money scams exposed: mars 2015

søndag 8. mars 2015

Apple Camfrog PRO scam

Just got an email claiming to be from iTunes:

"Your Apple ID was just used to download Camfrog PRO 6.99£ from the App Store on a computer or device that had not previously been associated with that Apple ID.

This download was initiated from Morocco.

If you initiated this download, you can disregard this email. It was only sent to alert you in case you did not initiate the download yourself.

If you did not initiate this download, we recommend that you go to https://apple.com to update your information, then see Apple ID: Security and your Apple ID for further assistance.

Regards,
Apple"

This email is NOT authentic. It is sent from some scammers who are trying to get you to give them your personal information (apple ID, credit card number or similar).

What is this?

Being hassled by foreign phone calls about investment opportunities many times a MONTH, I realized I was becoming a semi-expert on the area. I decided to start this blog and write about all the phone calls I receive from the girl that always sounds the same, but denies that she has ever called me before.

They want to achieve good-will from you so that they later can talk you into investing into companies with really silly names. The company names usually contain words like "Management", "Capital", "Worldwide", "Global" etc. to make it sound "big". But believe me, it's far from big - it's NOTHING. A total scam.

They are very persistent, making you feel like a fool for not being interested in what they have to tell you. But it's better to feel like a fool and just hang up, rather than losing your money later and feel like an even bigger fool.

General tip: Don't go into business with strangers from another country, who contacted you randomly.

Anti-scam tips

If the caller represents a serious company, ask for that persons number so that you can call them. If they don't want to give you their number, why should you bother investing money in their "opportunities"? They can reach you, but you can't reach them? Also, if you do get a phone number, don't forget it can still be a scam.
If a foreign company calls you to ask if they can send you more information, or to ask if a "senior analyst" can call you later on to advice you on investment opportunities - just say no. And hang up. Don't let them talk you into it.
Call one of the phone numbers on the web site and ask what the company name is. Don't let them make you tell them which company you're looking for. If they can't give you the name you're looking for, the chance of a scam is higher.
Does the web design look really rubbish?
Copy some words from the company description and google it to see if they stole the phrase from another website
Make sure the address bar starts with "https://" and not "http://"
Search for the company on Google to see if other people describe it as a scam or not
Visit the company's website to check its authenticity