Internet Scum

So you decided to sell something in ebay, you post it and attach a beautiful picture of the item. One day you receive an email from a bidder, he is in urgent need of your item and is asking if you have more to sell. He has offered a bid many times larger than what you expected. There's just one catch. - you have to ship it to him because he is from another country. No matter, he said in the email to include the cost of shipment so he can send you the total amount including the bid price for the item through bidpay. The next day, you received an email from bidpay saying that the amount is held in escrow and will be released to you after confirmation from a shipper that the item is already onboard. Thinking of the easy money, you contact a shipper and eagerly send the item on its way. After a few days you wonder why the money has not been credited to your account. You are a victim of another internet scam. 

The internet has made it easy to research, buy/sell things, find business opportunities and investments. Access to information is just a click away. Precious time is not wasted traveling back and forth when you can do commerce with ease and in the convenience of your own home. You save money needlessly spent for transportation and eating out. Transactions are fast and private. No more curious and sneering looks from others. Such convenience oftentimes lulls some in letting their guard down and believe everything they see on the screen. This false sense of security gives others the opportunity for abuse. 

That same non-personal and unemotional nature attracts criminal activities. It provides anonymity, an indispensable tool for scam artists and fraudsters. Free to roam, they are invisible to their victims and oblivious to the pain and suffering they cause. They prey on the vulnerable, gullible and weak. Many people have lost their entire savings and retirement money. Here are a few useful tips to protect you from becoming a victim.