Face to face scams can be some of the most frightening to be a victim of. Instead of anonymous hackers, the victim is brought face to face with the thief.
The way these scams typically work is using a pretense to meet at a specific location for any of a number of purposes. It could be to repay a debt owed by a family member or perhaps bail for a loved one in trouble.
The victim of the face to face scam either is defrauded of the funds or is placed in a position where they have to give the funds to the perpetrator or else they – or a loved one held ostensibly for ransom – will come to harm.
Sometimes a face to face scam will involve cash, other times the victim is asked to hand over a debit card and their PIN.
These scams are some of the most brazen, but also the most traumatizing to the victim. Learn more about them by watching this space. See below:
How the scam works: Traveling is a wonderful and educational way to spend time. In fact, many people rate it as one of their favorite ways to spend their leisure time. Scammers are well aware of peoples’ propensity to see the sites, especially in such famous places as our Nation’s capitol, and will do anything … Washington Monument Tickets Read More »
How the scam works: You’ve just had a long day of shopping at the mall and your arms are heavy with purchases as you make your way out the door into the parking lot. Suddenly a woman, dressed very stylishly and holding a perfume bottle, approaches you. She advises you the store you just left … Perfume Sample Robbery Read More »
How the scam works: Imagine you are shopping on a busy street. As you are walking, carrying your purchases, you see someone right besides you hop on a bike and ride away, followed by a person yelling for help to get his/her newly stolen bike back. If your gut instinct is to drop your things … Thief Chaser Read More »
How the scam works: This scam proves to be incredibly lucrative fast. Scammers will go door to door selling so-called counterfeit pens to businesses, claiming to be representatives of a marketing company which manufactures anti-fraud pens. They explain the pens work by marking the bills. If the color of the stroke turns green – the … Counterfeit Pens Read More »
How the scam works: Chances are you've played this game before at the carnival. Simply try to knock down the pyramid of six or more cans to win a prize. It's all a scam, even when you've actually done it. How is that possible? When you took your free turn and won, the heavier cans … Carnival Tin Cans Read More »
How the scam works: Look at this card for a few seconds. The card is a 5. Look carefully at the very first row of tiny arrows, at the top. If you count the arrows from right to left, you’ll see that the fifth arrow has a little touch-up on the side. Scammers are working … Playing Cards: Blackjack Read More »
How the scam works: (with video below) The Cloned Debit Card scam has been marking an alarming growth lately. The crooks operating it are either employees at a store you usually shop at — as they work till– or just come into stores as ‘customers’ and stick a skimmer into the PIN pad while the … PIN Pad Cloned Debit Cards Read More »
PIN Pad Switch Scheme: How It Works (with video below) This scam makes its rounds again hitting the small business owners or cashiers at coffee shops, juice franchises or convenience stores. It is called the PIN Pad Switch Scheme. How does the scam work? Watch the video below to see in action the PIN Pad … PIN Pad Switch Read More »
Beware of the Water Purification Systems aka Home Water Filtration System scam, making its rounds right now.
How the scam works: (with video below) You are in need of a locksmith or plumber and find an ad for a technician advertising services for “only $25”. You hire them, but at the end of the service you're charged $75. When you try to argue they say the $25 is just the callout charge … Locksmith/Plumber Services Read More »
Lottery Scratch Card Winners: How The Scam Works (with video below) As you probably know, most grocery stores have free magazine stands at their exit doors. Imagine this: one day, you find some lottery scratch cards on those stands. You pick one, scratch it and bam! The 3 numbers (or 5) in a row match! … Lottery Scratch Card Winner Read More »
Magazine Subscriptions Scam: How It Works Magazine subscribers often receive renewal solicitations disguised as bills from crooks. The thing is, you could become a victim of this scam whether you have a subscription for a printed magazine or for an online one.There are two variations of the scam: Scenario 1. The scammers select a … Magazine Subscriptions Read More »
How the scam works: You might be walking through a mall or a street market and get called at by a woman (maybe wearing a doctor’s smock) at a table full of magnets who invites you for a 2-minute trial therapy, for just a few bucks. She starts moving a magnet all over your body or on … Magnet Therapy Read More »
How the scam works: You are going towards a security gate and put your bag on the metal detector conveyor belt. Another person sneaks in front of you, seeming to be in a hurry. You are not in a rush, so you don’t mind. Then he gets held up at the detector, taking coins out of … Metal Detector Line-Up Read More »
How the scam works: (with video below) You're in a bar meeting a few friends for a pint. An older gentleman sits at the other end of the table, but he seems harmless so you don't think twice about it. As the night progresses and so does everybody’s intoxication level, you find yourself chatting with … Military Donation Read More »
How the scam works: (with video below) If you are looking to move all your belongings to a different city or state, use only reputable companies that have good reviews. Do not fall for the lower prices that some online ads will offer from obscure companies you have never heard of. If you do, this … Moving Furniture and Shipment Read More »
How the scam works: You are driving on a one-way narrow street (back alley) and the car in front of you stops, appearing to be breaking down. You both stop, he steps out of his car and nicely asks you to reverse so he can somehow push it on the side to make room for you. You … One-Way Street Reverse Read More »
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