The few pages found in this section of our website only scratch the
surface of the numerous frauds being perpetrated against the
American public.
As you read these pages, you'll think to yourself, "What, there's no
way I could get taken like this!"
Think again...these fraudsters are very slick characters. They are
VERY skilled at earning your trust. Because you see, for the fraud
to work, they know they must earn your trust and that's where they
begin. The second part of the scam, is that you must think you're
getting a great deal or you will make great profits from the scam.
Let's face it, we all want to live the American Dream. We'd like to
never have to worry about paying the bills next month. So the
prospect of easy money is very tempting. Scammers know that and they
play upon those temptations.
Time after time, we read articles in the paper or hear it on the
nightly news, where seniors were ripped off by home repair services
who re-asphalted their driveway for a great price, only to learn
later, as the asphalt is breaking apart, that they DID NOT get a
great deal.
We all know that if it's too good to be true, that it probably is,
but, still, we think it won't happen to us.
Consider this one. A good looking young man with a winning smile
walked into the bank before closing and innocently picked up a
handful of deposit envelopes. After closing this same young man came
back to the bank dressed in security guard clothing. After placing
the "out of order" sign on the ATM, he simply waited for his first
"customer."
Upon the arrival of the customer, he explained that the ATM was not
working and the bank had placed him outside the ATM to provide good
customer service. His instructions were to accept the deposits from
the customers (providing them a receipt, of course), which would be
deposited to their account the following morning. For those looking
to make a withdrawal, he was instructed to write down the account
number of the ATM card and obtain the PIN. He was authorized to
provide cash up to $100.00.
Now think about this. Be honest with yourself. A good looking guy
with a winning smile, wearing a uniform! Now tell me there is
absolutely NO WAY you would not have fallen for this? Uniforms
denote authority. We are raised to accept that fact and told time
and again as children that we can trust the policeman wearing a
uniform. It is ingrained in us to trust them. And it is very hard
not to.
One man gave up the days receipts from his business totaling over
$100,000.00. If it had been him alone, it would have been quite a
haul that night for this young man. As it was, not a single person
doubted his story and every one gave him their money or their
account and PIN.
And remember, since the money did not get deposited into the bank,
it was NOT FDIC insured.
Be very, very careful America!