Fraud & The Internet

02/05/2025

As we continue to learn the tricks of scammers and catfishers on the Internet, they are forced to get more tricky in how they reach us.

Here's the link, but I don't know if it will capture your IP and start hitting you with more.

01/20/2025

07/25/2024

https://chargeonmycard.com/hearst-membership/

HEARST MEMBERSHIP Charge on Credit Card - Is it Legit? charge on my credit card, debit card, and bank statements. Check if it is a fraud, scam, unknown, real,

07/04/2024

I'm an artist, so naturally when I see something as wonderful as the "KarlBox" with over 300 pieces of drawing materials presented in a fully contained unit, I had to read further.

AND for only $29.99!!!

Wrong. It's a discontinued, limited edition of Faber-Castell drawing media that was listed for $2,850!!! Keyword: WAS

Obviously, the ad was a scam and had impacted so many people that Faber-Castell had to post a statement about the reality.
https://fabercastellusa.reamaze.com/kb/products-art-and-graphic/limited-edition-karlbox

I had almost started a purchase. Then I stopped and wondered if it was available on Amazon, since I get free shipping through my son's Prime membership. There were plenty of Faber-Castell sets, but not the KarlBox. So I Googled 'karlbox'. That's when I found the statement from the makers. And that's when I realized how easy it would have been to get sucked into the initial Facebook Games ad.

And would you have researched the item before purchasing? Most don't have time. Scammers know that you won't.

And look at the scammer's website:
glamougrove.live
Notice the photo on their home page? It's a stolen image from what looks to be HomeDepot. The next image is a real HomeDepot photo from their website.

I surfed around through the thief's website and found they had gone to a lot of trouble to make it 'look' legitimate. Every step was taken to convince you that you were safe buying from them. Why?

It's a numbers game.

Let's say they'd get a hit (sucker) who is your Aunt Ruth living out on one of 100s of small farms, and country living in their day was not relaxing. S**t had to be done. Period. And there was a logical reason why on a farm, so learning to accept can later make you a victim.

This writing is a work in progress....

06/24/2024

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/06/person-you-met-online-really-military-servicememberor-scammer

If you meet someone on social media or a dating website or app, how can you tell if their profile is real? They say they’re in the military — but scammers especially like to pose as military servicemembers stationed overseas. What’s the best way to spot a fake?

06/24/2024

Here's one I personally experienced. I like to play video games, and several are found in the Facebook games section. Unfortunately, I'd say about 75% of the ads are fraudulent. Still, I kept seeing this one for Keto. I need to lose weight, and every time I saw it, I'd think about it. (That's how marketing works; repeat something often enough and the viewer will remember it.)

The ad uses images from The Shark Tank and photos of people who have supposedly experienced weight loss. A lot of it. I've worked in graphic design and advertising for many years, and a little flare was going off that I should question this ad, which I did. But I thought I might also be paranoid. So finally, I decided to spend the money and give it a try.

I selected Package 1 for $39.97, and moved through filling out the form with my address and credit card data. But here's what happened. There was another window I had to pass through to get to the shopping basket. It was offering something else, a detox, which I didn't want. So I clicked the "Complete Checkout" button, and suddenly the order was done—no opportunity to ensure the detox was not in the order. No indication at all... until the next window, which showed at the bottom of the window that I had ordered both!!! No way to cancel it!!

I sent a text

Days later, I took a look at the credit card account, and OMG!! They charged me $199.85 instead of the $39.97. And the detox was charged separately for $59.85!!!! In total, my credit card got hit for $259.70!!!!!

I have disputed both charges with the card company. A few days later, the product arrived in the mail, which I am going to ship back to the address listed on the label. When I tried to text back to the message I got, the response was "Sorry, this service is not available."



Why does Facebook allow the constant bombardment of criminals exposed to their customer base? I'm thinking they don't care; they have so much money now there's nothing you can do about it.... other than dump them. OR share this page with whatever human is reachable at Facebook. I'll try it, and let you know what happened.

06/23/2024

Here's a questionable ad. Comparable to a 'fixes it all' elixir carpetbaggers sold in the 1800s.

What could you possibly inhale that would delete all the built up ni****ne in your lungs? Where would it go? Do you throw it up? It sure doesn't dissipate into the blood stream where you eventually urinate it out; how would that happen?

FYI: If it does work...ha ha...please forgive my questioning it's legitimacy.

06/17/2024

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/17/asia/pig-butchering-scam-southeast-asia-dst-intl-hnk/index.html?utm_term=171866586238600b8124dc266&bt_ts=1718665862389&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=JEvXU3wzPgnDx%2B%2FVgzyfTL5crd4qPq9tPPl6s%2FrMyjylbHA8%2BVnwtdQ5%2FmVZ22YP&utm_source=cnn_In+Case+You+Missed+It+-+ICYMI&bt_alias=eyJ1c2VySWQiOiAiNjM2ODEyNTItNWM5YS00ZjI5LTk0Y2YtNDg0NDdiYTdlNGVlIn0%3D

Dennis was one of countless victims of a massive global criminal operation predominantly run by Chinese gangs who have built a multibillion-dollar scam industry in Southeast Asia.