15 Online Scams You Might Get Fooled By - Summary

Summary

Here is a concise summary of the provided text, which appears to be a countdown of 15 common online scams:

**Top 15 Online Scams:**

1. **Nigerian Scams**: Intelligent, manipulative scams often involving fake transactions.
2. **Weight-Loss Scams**: Unrealistic promises, relying on myths, to steal credit card info.
3. **Charity Scams**: Fake websites exploiting donations during disasters.
4. **Facebook Scams**: Hacked accounts spreading phishing links to family and friends.
5. **Work-from-Home Scams**: Promising easy life, requiring purchase of nonexistent secrets.
6. **Pet Delivery Scam**: Exploiting desire for pets, asking for transport money.
7. **Fake Government Websites**: Charging hefty fees for fake services (e.g., grants, visas).
8. **Free Trial Software Scam**: Automatically billing credit cards after "free" trials.
9. **Dead Relative Scam**: Claiming inheritance from unknown, deceased relatives.
10. **Anti-Aging Product Scams**: Exploiting elderly with "snake oil" products.
11. **Lottery Scams**: Promising large winnings in exchange for upfront fees.
12. **Money Laundering**: Using individuals as middlemen for illicit funds.
13. **Gumtree/Craigslist Scams**: Fake postings for apartments or overpayment for rentals.
14. **Online Pharmacies**: Selling expired, fake, or harmful medications at discounted prices.
15. **Computer Cleaning Software Scam**: Malicious "solutions" for nonexistent virus infections.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text, without opinions, in short sentences with numbers:

**Scam-Related Facts**

1. **Computer Cleaning Software Scam**: Scammers offer fake cleaning software to fix non-existent virus issues.
2. **Online Pharmacy Scam**: Some online pharmacies in countries with weak regulations may send expired meds, sugar pills, or wrong medication.
3. **Gumtree/Craigslist Scam**: Scammers post fake, well-priced listings, asking for money upfront or using overpayment tricks.
4. **Money Laundering Scam**: Legitimate-looking companies ask to use your bank account to receive funds, offering a small cut.
5. **Lottery Scam**: Scammers claim you've won a large sum and ask for a wire transfer to release the funds.
6. **Anti-Aging Product Scam**: Websites target the elderly with fake, expensive anti-aging products.
7. **Dead Relative Scam**: Scammers claim a distant, wealthy relative has passed away, leaving an inheritance, in exchange for a fee.
8. **Free Trial Software Scam**: Software trials automatically bill your credit card after the trial period.
9. **Fake Government Website Scam**: Fake .gov websites offer grants, visas, or documents for a hefty fee.
10. **Pet Delivery Scam**: Scammers promise pet delivery, asking for transport fees.
11. **Work from Home Scam**: Websites offer fake work-from-home opportunities, requiring purchase of "secrets".
12. **Facebook Scams**: Various scams, including phishing, operate through hacked relative accounts.
13. **Charity Scams**: Fake charity websites exploit donors after natural or man-made disasters.
14. **Weight-Loss Scams**: Scammers promise unrealistic weight loss, selling ineffective products or stealing credit card info.
15. **Nigerian Scams**: Intelligent, persistent scams, including eBay buyer tricks, aim to deceive individuals.

**General Facts**

16. Countries with weak regulations surrounding online medication are vulnerable to scams.
17. .gov websites are generally safer when free of viruses.
18. Natural or man-made disasters trigger an increase in charity scams.