Fraud Museum Showcases Web Scams 106
mashy writes "CNN is running a story about AdCops, an internet ad fraud patrol group, who recently opened a museum of internet scams. Its mission is to educate its members of the latest scams, but its $99 membership fee may make it an unpopular choice with so many similar services already available for free." By the way, if anyone needs to MAKE MONEY FAST, just lemme know I have tons of easy ways to do it in my spam folder ;)
Where where? (Score:1)
Like which ones? This would be neat--but only if they have sarcastic comments like Consumer Reports does.
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Non-meta-modded "Overrated" mods are killing Slashdot
i do the same thing (Score:1)
Great! (Score:5)
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...its $99 membership fee... (Score:5)
Heh, a scam showcasing scams... (Score:2)
Beating Scams? (Score:2)
$99 sounds like a scam to me!
Scam? Where? (Score:1)
Man, the people who built this thing must be rolling in the aisles...
fifth-ish post (Score:1)
Are they the only exhibit? (Score:5)
"Okay, mister, I'll look. Here's $99."
"Thank you, son, you won't regret it. Step right through that door."
Inside is a mirror with a sign above it that says: "SUCKER!"
PRESERVE YOUR SAFETY (Score:1)
Just visit this website [adcops.com] and find out NOW! The cost is $99, but isn't that a PITTANCE compared to your peace of mind ?
Dancin Spammer
this sounds like... (Score:1)
send us $99 to find out what scams are out there to avoid!
hell send me 5 bucks and ill tell ya a bunch!!!
MAKE MONEY FAST (Score:1)
Their web server must be wrecked! (Score:1)
The best one I ever got... (Score:2)
My only hypotheses here are that these people are engaged in some sort of money laundering or direct marketing scam, and I don't know which would be worse.
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CONTACT)
TELEFAX: 234-42-254548
ATTN: SIR,
I HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK YOU TO LOOK FOR A RELIABLE
AND HONEST PERSON WHO WILL BE CAPABLE FOR THIS
IMPORTANT BUSINESS BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET
ME DOWN EITHER NOW OR IN FUTURE.
I AM MR RANK SIDNEY,THE EASTERN DISTRICT BANK
MANAGER OF UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. (UBA). THERE IS
AN ACCOUNT OPENED IN THIS BANK IN 1980 AND SINCE 1990
NOBODY HAS OPERATED ON THIS ACCOUNT AGAIN. AFTER GOING
THROUGH SOME OLD FILES IN THE RECORDS I DISCOVERED
THAT IF I DO NOT REMITT THIS MONEY OUT URGENTLY IT
WILL BE FORFEITED FOR NOTHING.
THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR. SMITH B. ANDREAS, A
FOREIGNER, AND THE MANAGER OF PETRO TECHNICAL
SUPPORT SERVICES, A CHEMICAL ENGINEER BY PROFESSION
AND HE DIED SINCE 1990. NO OTHER PERSON KNOWS ABOUT
THIS ACCOUNT OR ANY THING CONCERNING IT, THE ACCOUNT
HAS NO OTHER BENEFICIARY AND MY INVESTIGATION PROVED
TO ME AS WELL THAT THIS COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT AND THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS (USD 26
MILLION DOLLARS). I WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO A
SAFE FOREIGNERS ACCOUNT ABROAD BUT I DONT KNOW ANY
FOREIGNER, I AM ONLY CONTACTING YOU AS A FOREIGNER
BECAUSE THIS MONEY CAN NOT BE APPROVED TO A LOCAL BANK
HERE, BUT CAN ONLY BE APPROVED TO ANY FOREIGN ACCOUNT
BECAUSE THE MONEY IS IN US DOLLARS AND THE FORMER
OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT IS MR. SMITH B. ANDREAS IS A
FOREIGNER TOO. I KNOW THAT THIS MASSAGE WILL COME TO
YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DONT KNOW OUR SELVES BEFORE,
BUT BE SURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS. I
ONLY GOT YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM THE COMPUTER
BELIEVE IN GOD THAT YOU WILL NEVER LET ME DOWN IN THIS
BUSINESS YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON THAT I HAVE CONTACTED
IN THIS BUSINESS, SO PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY SO THAT I
WILL INFORM YOU THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE URGENTLY.
I WANT US TO SEE FACE TO FACE OR SIGN A BINDING
AGREEMENT TO BIND US TOGETHER SO THAT YOU CAN RECIEVE
THIS MONEY INTO A FORIEGN ACCOUNT OR ANY ACCOUNT OF
YOUR CHOICE WHERE THE FUND WILL BE REMMITTED.AND I
WILL FLY TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR WITHDRAWAL AND SHARING
AND OTHER INVESTMENTS.
I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO INVOLVE A
FOREIGNER WITH FOREIGN ACCOUNT AND FOREIGN
BENEFICIARY. I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION TO MAKE THIS
WORK FINE. BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT IS READY TO APPROVE
THIS PAYMENT TO ANY FOREIGNER WHO HAS CORRECT
INFORMATION OF THIS ACCOUNT, WHICH I WILL GIVE TO YOU
LATER IMMEDIATELY, IF YOU ARE ABLE AND WITH CAPABILITY
TO HANDLE SUCH AMOUNT IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND TRUST
ACCORDING TO MY INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE FOR OUR MUTUAL
BENEFIT BECAUSE THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL NEVER COME AGAIN
IN MY LIFE. A NEED TRUTHFUL PERSON IN THIS BUSINESS
BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO MAKE MISTAKE I NEED YOUR
STRONG ASSURANCE AND TRUST.
WITH MY POSITION NOW IN THE OFFICE I CAN TRANSFER THIS
MONEY TO ANY FOREIGNERS RELIABLE ACCOUNT WHICH YOU CAN
PROVIDE WITH ASSURANCE THAT THIS MONEY WILL BE INTACT
PENDING MY PHYSICAL ARRIVAL IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR
SHARING. I WILL DESTROY ALL DOCUMENTS OF TRANSACTION
IMMEDIATELY WE RECIEVE THIS MONEY LEAVING NO TRACE TO
ANY PLACE. YOU CAN ALSO COME TO DISCUSS WITH ME FACE
TO FACE AFTER WHICH I WILL MAKE THIS REMITTANCE IN
YOUR PRESENCE AND TWO OF US WILL FLY TO YOUR COUNTRY
AT LEAST TWO DAYS AHEAD OF THE MONEY GOING INTO YOUR
ACCOUNT.
I WILL APPLY FOR ANNUAL LEAVE TO GET VISA IMMEDIATELY
I HEAR FROM YOU THAT YOU ARE READY TO ACT AND RECEIVE
THIS FUND IN YOUR ACCOUNT. I WILL USE MY POSITION AND
INFLUENCE TO EFFECT LEGAL APPROVALS AND ONWARD
TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH
APPROPRIATE CLEARANCE FORMS OF THE MINISTRIES AND
FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEPARTMENTS.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS BUSINESS, YOU WILL BE GIVEN
35% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT, 60% WILL BE FOR ME, WHILE 5%
WILL BE FOR EXPENSES BOTH PARTIES MIGHT HAVE INCURED
DURING THE PROCESS OF TRANSFERING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR EARLIEST REPLY BY FAX ONLY.
TELEFAX LINE: 234-42-254548.
YOURS TRULY,
MR RANK SIDNEY
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Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to get this e-mail past the lameness filter. However, I feel a duty to my fellow slashdotters to show them this letter in its original form, as it is one of the best examples of an Internet scam, and a fairly funny one at that.
My only hypotheses here are that these people are engaged in some sort of money laundering or direct marketing scam, and I don't know which would be worse.
----------
Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to get this e-mail past the lameness filter. However, I feel a duty to my fellow slashdotters to show them this letter in its original form, as it is one of the best examples of an Internet scam, and a fairly funny one at that.
My only hypotheses here are that these people are engaged in some sort of money laundering or direct marketing scam, and I don't know which would be worse.
----------
Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to get this e-mail past the lameness filter. However, I feel a duty to my fellow slashdotters to show them this letter in its original form, as it is one of the best examples of an Internet scam, and a fairly funny one at that.
My only hypotheses here are that these people are engaged in some sort of money laundering or direct marketing scam, and I don't know which would be worse.
----------
Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to get this e-mail past the lameness filter. However, I feel a duty to my fellow slashdotters to show them this letter in its original form, as it is one of the best examples of an Internet scam, and a fairly funny one at that.
My only hypotheses here are that these people are engaged in some sort of money laundering or direct marketing scam, and I don't know which would be worse.
Lesson #1 (Score:5)
The mission of AdCops is to keep our members informed about the latest tricks and tactics used by Internet scammers.
Lesson #1: Beware of groups asking outrageous membership prices for services other groups offer for free. For example, you paid $99 to joing AdBusters. You are a sucker.
Lesson #2: Bitter experience is the best teacher.
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Internet scams show how healthy the internet is (Score:4)
Additionally, I would say that fraud is an essential part of any economy. It makes for a healthy economic ecology. I like having the option of the illegal path - even if it is only an option, it is best if we all have it.
Temptation is something that is hard to resist of course, so I suppose that is bad. My ex boyfriend gave into temptation, and I am glad that I am not the sort of person who does.
A healthy economy will always provide temptation and fraud, so lets not be too worried about fraud on the internet, but recohnise it as a sign of health, like a blooming rosebud.
Make "f1rst pr0st" Fast !!!!!! (Score:2)
You are probably like me. You want HOT WOMEN and BIG MONEY in your pocket RIGHT NOW!!!!!
I WANT you to MAKE HOT SEX too! If you JOIN OUR BAND of HORNY TEEN SLUTS, you can GET FREE VIAGRA along with your TONER CARTRIDGES in your INBOX!!!!!!
All it takes is $19.95, and you too will be SWIMMING IT HOT BABES and FREE MONEY!!!!
You can tell that I'M NOT LYING because I have a lot of EXCLAIMATION POINTS at the end of my SENTENCES!!!!! That makes it REAL!!!!!!
Homer: But Marge.... (Score:4)
=-=-=-=-=
Won't this increase copycats? (Score:3)
Most frauds aren't perpetrated by large-time crooks. The myth of the traveling trickster coming into town and selling the townsfolk on the idea of a highschool marching band hasn't been true since well before the days of Seventy-Six Trombones. Most frauds are perpetrated by small-time crooks who see an opportunity and take it. They're usually not so clever, but they're effective in their sheer numbers.
If you put all the effective crime schemes in one central repository, won't that make it easier for small-time crooks to find them and start inflicting suffering on society's weak and feeble? Won't this also increase the number of copycat crimes?
There's a common misconception about fraud victims: that they somewhow deserved what they got, because they were themselves greedy and bought an idea that was too good to be true. But that's just false. No victim is responsible for his own suffering. We all owe each other a duty to prevent victimhood whenever and wherever we find it.
Fraud victims are usually poor and hopeless. They're the same type who play state-sanctioned lotteries (why we tolerate those, I'll never understand) because they have no other source of hope. They're trying to scrape themselves a living, and along comes a wolf who fleeces them. That's a bad thing. That much is clear.
Anything that increases the frequency of fraud is a bad thing in my book. Whatever else the benefits may be, I don't think we should tolerate it.
Amusing scam list... (Score:1)
Parody site (Score:1)
Along the way, we'll check out TheMuseumOfMoldyFood.com, AllAboutLint.com, and PicturesOfMyBasement.com...
my own scam (Score:1)
Re:Internet scams show how healthy the internet is (Score:2)
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CNN should know... (Score:1)
Asikaa
$99?? (Score:1)
Save your 99 bux (Score:5)
Re:this sounds like... (Score:1)
I've got a scam for them (Score:1)
You mean like the scam where you charge $99 for access to a site full of information that should be free and is probably partially compiled by its users anyway.
Re:The best one I ever got... (Score:2)
You provide him with your bank account routing info (the #s from the bottom of a check) and wait a few days for the big deposit. He makes a big withdrawal instead, and then is gone.
He's probably overseas (for jurisdictional reasons), but doesn't necessarily have to be.
$99 fee (Score:1)
Re:Great! (Score:1)
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Hey! LA,T is back! (Score:1)
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Non-meta-modded "Overrated" mods are killing Slashdot
Nice satire (Score:1)
I mean, they arent being serious, right?
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:1)
Inside is a mirror with a sign above it that says: "SUCKER!"
Or they could mail you a SUCKER! [127.0.0.1] link.
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:1)
Newpaper boy is hawking papers on the street, yelling, "36 People Swindled!! 36 People Swindled!! Read all about it!!" and this guy comes up and buys a paper, looks at it and say, "I don't see anything in here about people being swindled" and the newsboy starts yelling, "37 People Swindled!! 37 People..."
Re:Beating Scams? (Score:1)
These are a few of my favorite scams (Score:4)
Me, I just redirect them to the SEC, knowing that not only do they frequently arrest these scoundrels, they use the fines to pay off the national debt.
He said it himself! (Score:3)
Translation: only a seriously defective mind would actually pay us $99 for this rubbish.
I don't think withdrawls work that way... (Score:2)
I bet that they have a few "issues" with the money transfer and somehow you end up paying $1000 to fix those issues.
-Ted
Re:Won't this increase copycats? (Score:1)
Having fallen for a few get-rich scheems in my stupider years, I can honestly say that, while I wasn't proud of having been fleeced, I'm glad it only took me a coat of fur or two, to learn to look for those brown, pointy ears.
The problem is, though, that the wolves won't stop after they've taken your coat.
Make no mistake: They're carnivores.
Re:I don't think withdrawls work that way... (Score:2)
Yea, do this a bit and problems come back to the bank he's using, but you would not *believe* how lax some Russian banks were before they collapsed. Some countries have good standards, some do not, US banks sometimes extend the benefit of the doubt until they get burned.
Banks evolve, the Russian collapse helped to take care of that for Russia (in a very expensive way). But there was plenty of private enrichment on the way down.
Try this at a US bank, or other Western bank, and your but'll be in jail.
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:2)
ALL YOUR DOLLAR ARE BELONG TO US
Score: -10, Stupid
Danger, warning!!! (Score:4)
We've all seen lots of those email warnings and virus alerts, but this one tops them all. So I've decided to pass along this little story I justed concocted - err, I mean just received from a credible source, for your edification. This is not a chain letter! This is not a joke! This is absolutely true! (Yeah, right...)
--- WARNING, DANGER! ---
I know this guy whose neighbor, a young man, was home recovering from the trauma of his friend's aunt who took her kids to a Burger King restaurant in a major city and they all got bit by snakes in the ball pit. Anyway, he decided to forget his troubles by having a few stiff drinks at Mulligans, and the the next thing he awoke in a hotel bathtub full of ice and he was sore all over. When he got out of the tub he saw a note on the mirror saying that HIS KIDNEYS HAD BEEN STOLEN by Bill Gates, and he could only get them back by dialing 9-0-# and forwarding 5000 emails to a dying girl at Disney World.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!! My uncle's friend heard this story from his neighbor who got it from a guy named Craig Shergold who used to work for the American Cancer Society in a major city.
Well the poor guy immediately tried to call 911 from a pay phone to report his missing kidneys, but upon reaching into the coin-return slot he got jabbed with an HIV-infected needle around which was wrapped a note that said, "JOIN THE CREW". He was so distraught at this point that he went into the nearest theater and bought a ticket. It was then that he felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder blade. The people behind him got up laughing and tossed a wadded-up paper ball at him as they ran out. When he uncrumpled the paper, it said "WIN A HOLIDAY" and was signed by Jessica Mydek.
THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!! I have a friend who works next door to the police department of a major city and he heard it from his elderly aunt.
The poor man, having no kidkeys and infected with a dread disease, stumbled into a nearby Neiman Marcus cafe and ordered a plate of cookies. He asked for the recipe and was told that it would cost "two fifty". When he received his bill, there was a charge for 250 dollars. Furious, he fired up his laptop and sent an email to his lawyer. It was then that he noticed his Palm Pilot was infected by the Budweiser screen saver virus. A "flashing IM" sppeared on his AOL screen, and without thinking, he clicked on it. Instantly, hackers stole his password and began downloading salacious photos of Nina Tottenberg onto his hard drive.
So anyway the poor guy tried to drive himself to the hospital, but on the way he noticed another car driving along without its lights on. To be helpful, he flashed his lights at him and was promptly shot as part of a gang initiation in a major city. His arm was bleeding badly, but he was able to make it into the mall parking lot. Just at that moment, he saw two guys with black hoods stuffing his wife into a van. Apparently they had told the woman there was a dying baby in the parking lot and asked for her help.
THIS IS NOT A CHAIN LETTER!!! Please forward this urgent message to every one you can, and spread the news that the Take-A-Bath Foundation will donate a pair of Nike sneakers to everyone at Disney World, but only if you send it to 1000 people. Don't be a thoughtless jerk - it only takes a minute of your time to spread this chain letter, and it could be true!
Have a great new year, everyone. Feel free to pass this story (including this paragraph) along to a few friends, and be sure to tell them to sign up for the free TOURBUS newsletter. You can find the REAL story about all of these hoaxes in the TOURBUS archives at http://www.tourbus.com/ . This story is by Bob Rankin Copyright (c) January 1999
U guys suk (Score:1)
The SEC? (Score:1)
It's rather ingenious, praying on people's greed and utter lack of common sense when a large sum of money is involved.
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dman123 forever!
Pretty scary! (Score:2)
[gesticulates wildly] Yessir, what you need is Stan's Scam Insurance! For the low low price of only $65 a month we will insure you and your holdings against any internet scam! Cash only, please. Offer not valid on Scabb, Blood, or Phatt island.
Re:hi (Score:1)
Re:These are a few of my favorite scams (Score:4)
And chat with a Haitian.
Lose weight and MMF
On my spring vacation.
Insurance and credit cards,
And prime real estate lands.
These are a few of my favorite scams!
OTC!
Stockgenie!
HP Toner Sales!
These are a few of my favorite scams!
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Re:The joke? (Score:3)
Empty Wallet (Score:1)
Actually, they are implying if you report someone for abusing online advertising, they will pay you 5% of what the site ripped off, course they want to know the "exploit"....hrm...yeah right.
Going on means going far
Going far means returning
Re:One of the funniest damn scams (Score:1)
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:1)
That's "All Your Bucks Are Belong To Us"
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:2)
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(-1, Redundant) orgy (Score:1)
That being said, people seem to have missed fairly obvious point that this organization seems to be catering to businesses that're particularly susceptible to fraud (banks and credit card companies). In that context, a $99 membership fee is pocket change.
Re:He said it himself! (Score:1)
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:1)
ALL YOUR BUCK ARE BELONG TO US
I should have left it that way...
This is how it works... (Score:2)
The basic premise is that you are greedy and will agree to anything, even if it is not exactly like it is stated in the letter. If you set everything up so that you expect a wire transfer in of $26 million and expect to transfer x% of that out, everything is theoretically ok. However, if the deposit is not a wire transfer, but instead a forged/bounced check, that is the problem. Your bank will accept the fake deposit, but they will have to verify it (say it takes 2 business days). When it bounces, you lose that money. Unfortunately, by that time, the money you wire transferred out is gone, and making sure you have the actual money available for a wire transfer is your responsibility. You just can't "cancel" it when you find out the deposit money bounced.
"But the nice man said the deposit was a wire transfer, not a check," you exclaim. "Tough grits," said the banker.
"Now give us the $20 million you owe us."
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dman123 forever!
Re:Internet scams show how healthy the internet is (Score:1)
As the saying goes... "Yeah, and I have a bridge to sell you.." Spam has the ability to reach far more suckers than P.T. Barnum ever could.
The Irony-- membership fee (Score:1)
don't ya think?
stainless is as stainless does [usadmc.com]
GINSU posted this 1st (Score:1)
You mean like the scam where you charge $99 for access to a site full of information that should be free and is probably partially compiled by its users anyway.
And it was so good I decided to post it again
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Re:And the proof is where? (Score:1)
And what would bring that lesson home more than a mirror that says sucker? I suppose, a mirror with a link to the free stuff [scambusters.org].
These folks invented the web scam... (Score:1)
It's not a museum! (Score:2)
Specifically, AdCops started by targeting people from advertising-driven companies who are running scripts and bots to click-through ad banners millions of times to drive up their advertising revenues. Now, it appears that they're databasing people using credit card generators and other scams as well. It's not a museum, but a database for admins to correllate to try and get information on people scamming them out of money through those bogus click-throughs or generated cards.
I dunno, but if I were paying to put up banners or accepting credit cards online, $99 for access to that kind of database would seem quite worthwhile...
Eschatfische.
Re:The best one I ever got... (Score:4)
This is the "Nigerian 419 scam", or the "419 scam". Any keyword search will tell you what you need to know.
The short version: Report it to the US Secret Service - it's their bailiwick under the auspices of the US Treasury. It's a popular scam among organized criminals - so popular that the Government of Nigeria periodically takes out full-page ads in financial dailies to warn people.
419 scam victims have been killed on occasion. Not "lost their account", not "busted and wound up in a nice American jail". Just killed.
Wow (Score:1)
Re:Are they the only exhibit? (Score:2)
See the web scams for $99? Sheee-it, I get more scams than this in my incoming spamload every day!
Re:The joke? (Score:2)
Kevin Fox
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Re:Won't this increase copycats? (Score:4)
There's a common misconception about fraud victims: that they somewhow deserved what they got, because they were themselves greedy and bought an idea that was too good to be true. But that's just false. No victim is responsible for his own suffering. We all owe each other a duty to prevent victimhood whenever and wherever we find it.
No I don't think that is a misconception. Most frauds use quick/easy money as bait, and they are generally quite obviously bullshit to anyone who will stop a minute to think. Two simple questions expose nearly any fraud:
1) Where are they making their money?
2) What makes me so special?
People who refuse to slow down enough to ponder these questions before jumping for the vanishing money are below contempt in their greed.
Fools and their money are soon parted. -Ben Franklin
Fraud victims are usually poor and hopeless.
I find the idea that anyone in the western world is hopeless to be ludicrous. Left with limited options? Yes. Hopeless? Bullshit! The two are not equivalent. If nothing else it is bonehead easy to get a factory job that will pay for schooling. I know. I was a 21yr old truck driver who lost his liscense with a new wife and a new baby. I worked bagging groceries as a second job until I got a job that would pay for schooling. Now I count myself amoung some of the highest paid professionals in the world. My former position is usually what is held up as 'hopeless'. Hell, the worst that I could have done was to hold my $10 hour factory job, ad infinitum.
They're the same type who play state-sanctioned lotteries (why we tolerate those, I'll never understand) because they have no other source of hope. They're trying to scrape themselves a living, and along comes a wolf who fleeces them. That's a bad thing. That much is clear.
And the wolf would be toothless if the fools would stop and think for a moment. But consider nature for a moment. The more predators there are, the more wary herbivores become. Evolution will even provide the hunted with additional defences to protect them from becoming prey.
Now apply it to this situation. The more people get taken, the more wary they will become of being taken again. People will begin to read contracts and question the terms thereof. People will question what they are told by politicians. The online frauds are small potatoes compared to those proferred by the like of Republican Party, the Democrats, M$ and AOL, IMNSHO. People agree to abominable terms in contracts from large companies all the time because they feel comfortable that someone else is looking after them. People believe that their politicians don't lie to them because the other party is watching (except that the other party is also lying so they agree not to call each other on it). It's gotten to the point where large companies feel like they can have customers sign anything with imputence(sp?). Unfortunately, some of the companies are so large and control so much of so many markets that their terms must be accepted in order to operate effectively in society. A power they derive from the fact that so many do not question the contract terms.
Down with the coddling. Let people be taken until they learn to be a little shrewd about thier business dealings. Fools don't deserve their money, and people will quickly learn to question what they are told and not to be foolish. It will make for a much better society all around once everyone looks out for themselves.
Re:Great! (Score:1)
Re:Lesson #1 (Score:1)
Careful. The organization is called Ad Cops. No need to smear Adbusters, which as far as I can see is completely unrelated.
FREE Admission to Meseum - READ HOW INSIDE!! (Score:2)
http://www.adcops.com/members/ [adcops.com]
Any company that trusts their business to Adcops are fools and deserve everything or in this case nothing they will get other than incompetence. CNN covers crap like this...guess AOL really has taken the media to a whole new low.
Anyways enjoy your free tour of the meseum!
Re:Where where? (Score:1)
Like which ones? This would be neat--but only if they have sarcastic comments like Consumer Reports does.
Like the ones that cost $99 to join?
Kind of Extreme (Score:1)
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Re:The joke? (Score:2)
Unable to recurse.
Top Ten (Score:2)
The Top Ten Most Wanted List [adcops.com] is a hoot, filled with dire language describing people who "force clicks on banners" (i.e. click a banner to download a file) as having "Stole $2000". I'm picturing some guy pointing a gun at a user's head, screaming "CLICK IT!", then afterwards going to rob a convenience store.
Some of the other comments are great also: "distributor of banner click software....heavy duty dude...beware!" Now I'm envisioning some cold-blooded ruffian fingering his glock as he puts the finishing touches on a Perl script.
All your forced clicks [prmsystems.com] are belong to us.
$99? (Score:1)
Webpage, heal thyself.
Re:...its $99 membership fee... (Score:2)
Re:FREE Admission to Meseum - READ HOW INSIDE!! (Score:1)
According to the CNN article, that's one of the museum's "most eye-popping" entries.
It's a text file from an old BBS. They didn't even bother to add HTML formatting. I mean, I could do better than that, and I'm an ignoramus!
The most effective web scam ever: web advertising (Score:2)
SomethingAwful's Lowtax didn't get paid for months this past Fall. Unless you can afford the $1,000 doubleclick sign-up fee (another scam?) you're stuck with those who fly by night.
Thank goodness we're all independently wealthy [ridiculopathy.com]
Re:Where where? (Score:1)
Re:Where where? (Score:1)
http://HoaxBusters.ciac.org/ [ciac.org]
Mailing List (Score:1)
Re:This is how it works... (Score:2)
Re:Won't this increase copycats? (Score:1)
That's why they charge 99 bucks for it!!! That way YOU TOO can have the secret of making thousands, even millions of dollars on the internet!
Don't you watch ANY late night (or Sunday afternoon) television?
And I remember when late night and Sunday afternoon television used to be about black and white reruns and monster movies. I miss those days...
Re:Great! (Score:1)
Horrible Web Sites (Score:1)
If one doesn't exist a Slashdot-like site site of horrible web sites would be great.
Re:fifth-ish post (Score:2)
Haven't you been to Adcops yet? Their Top Three [adcops.com] list reads like a Who's Who of computer fraudsters. Entirely coincidentally, the top two perpetrators both made off with exactly 37 million dollars each. The runner-up, a close third, made off with $5000.
How the hell did these jokers get their press release picked up by CNN?
Whoops! (Score:2)
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love those nigerians ... (Score:1)
Re:The best one I ever got... (Score:1)
I will try to remember as much as I can.
First the guys send you the mail or letter. Then they come to your house, well dressed and with some sort of official papers to sign or whatever.
Then there are some "complications". The guys need some money to sort out "administrative fees".
In the next step you get invited in the country to sign other papers at the bank. Usually at this point you get robbed/kidnapped/whatever and you need to empty you bank accounts to be free.
Finally when you get back home, they will blackmail you or threaten to kill you for more money.
That how it works as far as I remember.
whose putting on whom? (Score:1)
Re:These are a few of my favorite scams (Score:1)
Re:These are a few of my favorite scams (Score:1)
Re:These are a few of my favorite scams (Score:1)
Oh the irony! (Score:2)
That IS the general gist of all this, right?
:)
-Restil
where do they put themselves on the list? (Score:2)
pay the fee, log onto the site, and it says: "Scam #1 - fraud museum" and proceeds with a detailed description of their own site.
I'm confused... (Score:1)
I bet that's one scam they don't warn you of!
Re:Won't this increase copycats? (Score:2)
Re:Won't this increase copycats? (Score:2)
Buying a computer should not be based on trust, and this is exactly one point covered in my previous post. Buying a computer should be based on a contract, whether explicitly signed or through common business laws. Fraud should always be illegal, and once the transaction is no longer based on trust, purchasing from the big or small would be less of an issue.
Stock pump spams and others cracked down by SEC (Score:2)
As it says "The S.E.C., announcing its fifth nationwide Internet fraud sweep, said the people accused used so-called spam e-mail messages, electronic newsletters, Web sites, hyperlinks, message boards and other Internet media in cases involving both publicly traded securities and privately held companies."
You use your methods and I'll sic the feds on them.