Why do people scam others? How can we protect ourselves from being ripped off?
400723
Because they have no moral problem with it. Many of them are sociopaths who only think of themselves. They don't feel other people's pain. To them it's just easy money with little risk.\n\nA lot of scammers in Nigeria feel that when they're stealing from Europeans or Americans they are taking money from people who are rich, who wouldn't feel the loss or they justify it as some kind of collective payback for Slavery. This is total nonsense of course.\n\nIn years of dealing with online fraud, I have yet to find a crime so low that criminals would not do it. Online scammers steal from orphans, from single mothers, from families with severely ill family members and no job, from crippled war veterans, from dying AIDS patients, etc.\n\nThe best prevention is education. The more people know about how scams operate, the fewer people will fall for it. If you come an offer that seems too good to be true or is otherwise unusual, search on the internet. Talk to others about it. Ask a question in here. There will be many people willing to offer advice and experience.
1173418
get someone to feed them some false information (or do it yourself) but something that they could believe, something small and trivial. if you hear the stuff that you made up back from someone else then you'll know. people can be really jealous of others and unless you hear the same thing from two people that don't know each other then i suggest that you take it with a grain of salt.\ntry the suggestion above, it works. a real friend should come right to you and tell you. or keep your trust.
1113328
why, are you looking to perpetrate fraud of some kind?
251919
God is watching. He expects you to share with those less fortunate. Even if it is a scammer, and they drive home at the end of the day in a hummer to their fancy beach resort, God knows of your intent. I would say that a 'pro' would be a feather in your cap as you march toward your own salvation.
174700
careful scammers love this...
526981
People will try to scam you in any way imaginable now....it's so sad.\nJust be smart, and keep your eye on them. (As you have been!)\nI applaud the fact that you are trying to warn others by posting what you have learned. Keep up the good (and honest!) work and I wish you all the luck!
824270
If you think about it, we are all scammed everyday in many small ways.  Mass media is all about scamming covering such broad and different fields as the Irak war, which really was a mass scam, and going on to a series of little things in consumer products.  They implant certain ideas or images in your mind and just let your mind and desires do the rest.  You can differentiate perhaps in scams that are legal or paralegal and others that are ilegal or even criminal, but they are all scams.
790309
If he is offering money in any way do not answer, just delete and delete those that look the same, it is an old scam, and people fall for it everyday, you will wind up sending him some money but you will never see yours.
154866
Report them to Yahoo asap.  \n\nAlso, I have been scammed too.  I am doing my best to stop these crooks from ever scamming again.\nI know they have scammed before, because they said so.\nI am helping other people along the way. I wish to know if these are the same people.  If you do not mind sharing the email address, please send it to me at sqldba_needinglegalhelpasap @yahoo .com\n\nI have also listed the yahoo mail abuse help link below.\nMail abuse is listed at the bottom of the page.
643848
Unfortunately there are far too many dodgy charachters out there who are ready to scam anyone (sick aren't they!).  It isn't fair especially for someone who is looking for genuine support.  All I can do is wish you well.
724078
You will always get dishonest people who want to make as much as possible in as little time, and for as little effort, as possible, no matter who or what they disrupt or hurt or ruin in the process.\n\nIt's up to us decent folk to be the opposite and try always to deal with people fairly. \n\nI would have no hesitation in 'grassing-up' someone who I knew to be operating some kind of deception. (Benefit cheats and drug dealers beware!!)
489847
Contact your local government consumer affairs. Or if you don't have one, contact the state attorney's office. They are eager to crack down on any scam.
362476
Same here... when I was young, I once turned over all my savings to a beggar because I felt so bad for their con story.  My ear got chewed off after that.  I'm still gullible now but it helps getting the advice of well meaning friends before I fall for anything dubious.
373344
I did a quick search on some popular scam list sites and didn't find anything.  I've included a few links to check out for yourself.\n\nCheers,\nMatt
395103
There are plenty of good methods out there being sold by a lot of traders and scam artists alike - all cashing in on the greed that people have. Some work, others are just exaggerated. \n\nAt least you are looking into it... other traders just simply gamble away their money.\n\nMy suggestion is, once you've found a method that works for your trading style - stick to it. There are so many ways to skin a cat as there are to trade - there is no one "right" way to trade.
456309
Those are all scams. Basically if it sounds too good to be true, it isn't true. All of your scams will ask for personal information or money. Just don't respond and save yourself some heartache.
542931
As you've learned, there are cretins out there who will exercise the common human desire to get something for nothing.  Hope you enjoyed the Trojan!\n\nTo be a bit more succinct, they do it because there's always some idiot out there who thinks he or she can get away with stealing someone elses work.  You got what you deserved!