Investments, lotteries and telephone blackmail are the most common methods used by fraudsters. Irek Safin, a lawyer and expert at the International Law Firm, told socialbites.ca.
The first type of fraud in the ranking is investment fraud.
“Scammers offer to deposit money and make a profit on the investment. Financial pyramid, cryptocurrency transactions, joint gold purchase, etc. We can talk about topics. Often one of your friends and acquaintances may offer you to join the “pyramid” without realizing that you yourself have fallen into a trap. One of the signs of financial investment fraud is that you are asked to involve other investors in the company. And you get dividends for new participants,” explained the expert.
According to the lawyer, there are also quite a few cryptocurrency schemes at the moment.
“Among these are financial pyramids where you have to bring friends. And “celebrities” offering to double your bitcoins. And “financial experts” who know exactly how the currency will behave and help you make money from it. And fake e-wallets offering high interest rates. Safin added that the main sign of this type of scam is that they promise you “delicious” conditions too.
Another common scheme is lotteries and winnings.
“The person is notified that he/she is the winner of the raffle. Scammers often pose as representatives of a mobile operator or employee of a well-known company. However, in order to claim your reward, you must make a deposit, which will be refunded once the winnings are received. Fraud is indicated by your failure to enter the giveaway. Companies don’t give gifts this way; They are not subject to any conditions; They want you to buy something from them. This may also include valuable gifts from abroad “for good eyes” or receiving inheritances from unknown relatives that require payment of duties, commissions or deliveries, he said.
The most dangerous types of fraud are telephone blackmail.
“Most of the victims are elderly people. Very worn out scheme: “Mom, help, I hit a man” is replaced by calls from “law enforcement agencies”. The fraudster introduces himself as a police officer or prosecutor and informs that a criminal case has been opened against you. He skillfully intimidates by offering to solve the problem with a bribe and “If you don’t have that much money, a “kind” employee is ready to help you get a loan. The best solution in such a conversation would be to break off the conversation,” the lawyer advised.
Previous experts warned about a new phone fraud scheme involving replenishment of funds.