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...

  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...

    If you’ve been shopping online without getting nailed, thank God for you.  But you still need this article.  I’m just opening your eyes to potholes, so you don’t fall later. What if you’re new to buying from Instagram or WhatsApp vendors?  Then you need these safety nets even more. Scammers are waiting. I know most of you think that social media marketplaces are easy, fast, and safe.  However, let me be honest with you - that’s not always the case. Here’s the bitter truth: if you shop carelessly, you will lose two things:  money to fraudsters, and your self-confidence.  One bad experience is all it takes to make you scared of ever clicking “Buy Now” again. A global proverb says, “Once bitten, twice shy.”  It means if you’ve been hurt once, you’ll be extra careful next time so it doesn’t happen again. But do you really have to wait and get bitten first? I don’t think so. That’s why I put this article together in  Safety Nets: Spot ...