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: Scenario 1. Crooks approach new immigrants in town by claiming they are working for non-profit organizations that host ESL classes (English as a Second Language). After they get the victims’ personal information, the scammers call them and inform them that they didn’t qualify for the free classes and now have to […]
12 Funeral Scams Everyone Should Be Aware Of Are you looking for cheap coffins for sale or trying to buy caskets online to help with funeral costs? Beware of several funeral scams out there, whether it's about pine, wooden, baby or pet caskets. Let's take a look. Most of the time, funerals are organized […]
How the scam works: (with video below) You might come across a campaign –online or in stores as donation boxes– that’s fundraising money to pay for a baby’s funeral. This is a real tear-jerker. There’s a picture of the baby and you really feel upset. Thousands of dollars get into the hands of scammers pulling […]
How the scam works: Scammers approach their victims anywhere, especially in stores, where people can spark up a conversation easily. A woman tells you a family member is in the hospital and needs urgent surgery, but she doesn’t have enough cash. That’s why she is selling her last resort for rainy days – a gold bar. […]
How the scam works: Be aware of a new grocery voucher giveaway scam happening these days. There are several marketing companies that use this trick to get people into paying for something that might come as an unbelievable shopping experience. You are promised a $500 grocery coupon if you participate in a so-called survey and […]
How the scam works: Small gyms in neighborhoods might announce a grand opening coming as soon as they complete a renovation. Flyers advertise new membership rates at this gym after the reopening. Even more good news –if you join in advance, you’ll pay half price. This way, the money will go towards the renovation and […]
Beware of the Little Dirty Gym Tricks (with video below) The first few months of the year is when thousands of people in your city start going to the gym after setting up the world's most common New Year's resolution: losing weight and being healthy. Just like an unfortunate school of fish heading exactly […]
How the scam works: Imagine you are in a store and you really like a HDTV. The price is great, but you are going through some financial challenges, so you can’t really buy it. The manager suggests you sign a “provisional sales agreement”, meaning that they will sell it to you for the same price […]
How the scam works: (with video below) You are in your backyard and a truck with a couple of hard-working-looking men passes by. The truck stops and one of them tells you – in a worried and concerned way – that they are working on a job the next block over and they have noticed […]
How the scam works: This is a scam aimed at newcomers, international students, or foreign workers in the United States. Crooks meet victims in pubs or at working centers and pose as representatives of any “vehicle registration office”. They will tell the newcomers they need an international driving license to be able to drive in […]
The Leather Jacket Scam could happen to you anywhere. It involves brand name jackets for sale, whether they are Armani, Versace or AC Di Milano jackets.
How the scam works: We’ve all heard and seen fake moms begging on street corners for cash to buy food for their imaginary children. The reverse is when a 10-year old kid approaches you on a sidewalk or, more often, in a mall. You are walking with your girlfriend or boyfriend and a child pulls your […]
How the scam works: A couple of young and polite people show up at your door carrying great paintings, telling you they are art students and are trying to raise funds for their tuition and art supplies by selling their own pieces. The paintings really look good and they are asking “only” $40 for the works of […]
Watch out for the Balance Bracelet scam, aka the Hologram Bracelet or the Strength Bracelet trick. The power wristband i just a toy.
ATM Device Scam: How It Works (with video below) You walk up to an ATM, absentmindedly insert your card and type in your PIN. You walk away with your cash and get on with the day. A few days later, you start to notice some unusual charges on your card. Little did you know, the ATM […]
How the scam works: This is similar to the Bank Machine Device scam, but it usually happens at night. You walk up to the ATM, insert your card and type in your PIN. This time, not only do you not get your money, but your card is trapped inside! You can't go into the bank […]
How the scam works: You're desperately in need of an ATM and walk the streets until you find one outside a bank. You run up to it, only to find a note attached, saying: “This machine is out of cash. The closest ATM is one block south.” You follow the instructions and walk to the […]
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