Safety Nets: Spot & Stop Fraud, Scams, & Manipulation

  Quick Links: Understanding Overpayment Scams How Do Overpayment Scams Work? Common Overpay Scam Messages and Tricks What To Do If You Receive Such a Message Frequently Asked Questions Understanding Overpayment Scams Were you ever contacted online by someone claiming to have paid you more than they should? If so you could be dealing with an overpayment scam which is a common trick used by scammers to steal your money. In this Safety Nets article, I will explain how overpayment scams work, what the messages look like, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself from falling victim. Let us get down to it. An overpayment scam is designed to trick you into believing you received too much money for something. The scammer then asks you to send back the extra amount from your own money. Usually the so-called first payment is fake, non-existent, or stolen and will later disappear. On the contrary the money you send back is real and you lose it. Overpayment scams are most...

  How To Know If A Viral Side Hustle Is A Scam Before You Lose Money Quick Links: Can A Viral Side Hustle Be Fake? 8 Signs That A Viral Side Hustle Is A Scam 7 Steps To Protect Yourself Against Scam Viral Side Hustles Frequently Asked Questions Can A Viral Side Hustle Be Fake? We are today in a digital world where new side hustles pop up online and everywhere daily. They seem to go viral by the seconds and are broadcast  on TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, in group chats. It is not surprising that most of us find it impossible to resist them or any opportunity to make extra money from our phones. However, I need to frankly point you to a fact. It is not every viral  opportunity we should regard as genuine, legitimate, or safe. As a matter of fact, some of them are deliberately tailored to deceive and lure you into a duper's trap. As a result, it will save you a lot of stress if you can discover how to identify fake ones early enough. That's precisely what this Safety...

Quick Links: Dissecting The Statement: What Resume Are We Talking About Identifying Clear Red Flags In The Scenario Credible Steps To Prevent Falling Into The Trap Frequently Asked Questions Dissecting The Statement: What Resume Are We Talking About Have you received a call or message telling you, "Hello. Your resume has been approved. Please chat me on WhatsApp." ? Let me guess, you are thinking, "I did not apply for anything" . If that's true, please understand that you are not alone in this encounter. This is one of the common scams going around town right now. It sounds harmless and  professional, but it is a trap. Alright, let's break it down together so you don't get caught in that web or fall for it. First things first, just as your natural instincts ought to prompt you, ask yourself this: " What resume?" Take a moment to think about it. Did you recently apply to fill a job vacancy? Did you send your CV to anybody or compan...

  Quick Links Understanding Relationship Scammers 3 Common Types Of Relationship Scams You Need To Know 9 Red Flags Of Romance, Family & Job Scams Frequently Asked Questions Understanding Relationship Scammers Relationship scammers don’t usually start by asking for your card details.  If they did, you wouldn’t let them get an inch closer, would you? They start by going after your trust, and the  easiest way to do that is to pretend to care and be the kind of person you’ve been hoping would care about you. That’s why these scams cut so deep. When it happens, it’s not just money you lose, you also feel foolish, embarrassed, and like you can’t trust your own judgment anymore. Is it wrong to help or to believe in people?  No. It’s not your fault for wanting to help.  The fault is on the person who decided to use your goodness against you. So how can you stop it?   Today in Safety Nets: Spot & Stop Fraud, Scams, & Manipulation, I’m sharing 9 red...

  Quick Links What is a scam website? Motives of scam websites 15 Ways To Spot Scam Websites Frequently Asked Questions What is a scam website? A scam website is a fraudulent or fake website that is designed to trick and dupe you. You may think of it as a fake online store. It looks exactly like a true store, with similar or same colors,  logo, and layout. However, instead of offering or selling something original to you, it is simply there to steal  your money,  personal information, or to take control of your accounts. While some of them pretend to be your bank,  others impersonate entities like Amazon, Netflix, FedEx, a university, a government grant program, or even Facebook and Instagram support. At a glance, they don't look  scammy at all, especially to untrained eyes and mindset, and that's the scary part. This is why knowing what to look for and how to spot brand inconsistencies and red flags matters. Just imagine this scenario. You receive a link t...

  Ponzi Schemes like MMM still exist.   This  Safety Nets: Spot and Stop Fraud, Scams and Manipulation   article is a wake-up call and a guide on how you can spot them and  protect yourself. Quick Links: The MMM Story: A Case Study    Common Features of Ponzi Schemes 7 Safety Nets To Protect Yourself From Ponzi Schemes    Frequently Asked Questions The MMM Story: A Case Study Anonymous Contributor  Lagos. Lost: ₦150,000 I joined MMM because everyone around me was joining - my sister, my colleague, even my church group leader. They kept showing bank alerts of “30% in 30 days”. It all sounded too good to ignore. I started small with  ₦50,000. Thirty days later I received ₦65,000. I was very excited, so I went higher by sending ₦150,000.  I could see ₦195,000 sitting right there on my dashboard and  counting down. I waited for payback. It never came One morning the site said "system upgrade" and a week later, "paused for...

    Do you like being flattered? Whether you do or don't, this anonymous scam experience will educate your mindset. Quick Links: A Flattery Scam Experience Why Flattery Is Often A Win For Scammers 8 Safety Nets To Safe You Frequently Asked Questions A Flattery Scam Experience I used to love being praised but recently it landed me in trouble. It happened this way. I am a trader dealing in spare parts sales. People call me by a nickname I can't repeat here for security reasons but it's a hype name I carried along  from secondary school days. My fellow traders and almost everyone knows that calling me by that heady nickname is the easiest way to get a favour from me. I didn't know how dangerous that can be, until when some businessmen approached me with a deal. They somehow knew my nickname and mostly used it to address me. They were full of praises for my intelligence, told me they came to me because of my Fame as a smart and successful trader. They way they flattered me,...