“Hi, I am Ruby,
I’m diagnosed with esophageal cancer, because it went unnoticed I had to undergo laryngectomy. I have decided to donate my money to you. I am also donating my body after i am gone for research. I want this last act of mine to be an offering to GOD and humanity. Send a note back with this ref. SvaSo so i know you got this. I know I don’t know you. God bless you abundantly, Hotarubi”
The above is the text of an e-mail that arrived in the Dolphin’s in-box a few days ago. What was the first thought that flew into my head? “Someone wants to send me money!” After half a second, I realized that if poor “Ruby” is in such an awful condition, she has probably already spent all her money on doctors, hospitals, and medications. And, besides that, why would she give me anything – a person she freely admits she has never met? Quickly my common-sense self overcame my greedy self, and I realized “Ruby” was trying to scam me.
On Internet Explorer, I searched for “reporting e-mail scams” and found the FBI web site. I easily found how to report if you’ve been a victim of a scam, but since I was busily putting this issue together, I didn’t take the time to figure out how to report that someone was most likely attempting to scam me. We should all know this, so if one of you readers can tell us how, I’d be grateful.
I did find these tips from the FBI that anyone can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud. But really, if you just quash any “something for nothing” attitudes that may raise their ugly heads in your soul, and use a little common sense, you can, most likely, avoid ever being a victim of a scam.
-Joyce Rhyne
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Scan the attachments for viruses if possible.
• Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the e-mail with the link to which you are directed and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
• Log directly onto the official website for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail. If the e-mail appears to be from your bank, credit card issuer, or other company you deal with frequently, your statements or official correspondence from the business will provide the proper contact information.
• Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if the e-mail is genuine.
• If you are asked to act quickly, or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.
• Verify any requests for personal information from any business or financial institution by contacting them using the main contact information.
• Remember if it looks too good to be true, it probably is not true.
