A new year lies ahead. Honest people are looking forward to working and earning in 2022. So do scammers. The problem is their job is our loss. Some scams are more common than others at the beginning of the year. Discover a few examples so you will know what to avoid.
Job Scams
There’s nothing worse than desperately looking for a job and finding a scam. However, fake jobs are way too common these days. Especially work from home scams. The targets are often students and young people. Alternatively, scammers also target part-time job seekers. These categories are easier to lure to second-tier jobs.
Most of the time, they only need a side income. Therefore, they are not picky. Any job would do if it pays. Scammers know this. So, they tempt victims with good hourly rates. However, these people get nothing. Most job scams are phishing scams.
In other words, the authors collect candidates’ personal data. Usually, they do it through online forms. Once a candidate fills in a form, they provide essential personal information.
- Names
- Addresses
- Contact details
- Bank account details
- Social Security Numbers
These are just some of the sensitive data scammers collect. Once they have it, they can leverage it for:
- Financial fraud (bank account details)
- Impersonation (name, address, contact number)
Alternatively, they can sell the data on the dark web for a hefty price.
Merchandise Scams
These are evergreen scams. We’ve seen them flourish over the past year. More than likely, they’re here to stay. Merchandise scams can take myriad forms. The result is the same. Consumers lose money. Sometimes, they get defective products. Other times, they get no products at all. However, scammers never fail to charge them.
Here are just a few common merchandise scams. Watch out for them in 2022:
- Fake online stores – scammers use them for phishing and financial fraud
- Fake products – buyers pay good money for counterfeit luxury products such as clothes
- Defective products – these items arrive with defects, yet it’s impossible to return them
- Too-good-to-be-true discounts – these usually lure people into buying nonexistent items
- Clone e-stores – these imitate established brands, but offer low-quality products
Weight Loss Scams
The beginning of the year is resolutions’ time. After the lavish Christmas meals, many people’s resolution is weight loss. Not surprisingly, gyms often get crowded in January. Also, this is the month when many start exercising at home. Scammers are on the lookout. These people have money to spend. Therefore, they can make good prey.
Moreover, exercising is not the only way to lose weight. For the less eager-to-get-fit, there are also pills. Weight loss pills are, in fact, quite popular these days. People use them all year round. Yet, purchases spike after the winter holidays. The cause? You know it. Those Christmas cookies were way too good.
Given all these, weight loss scams are some of the top new year rip-offs. Even the Better Business Bureau issued a warning in this regard. It referred to weight loss pills and supplements. It seems that most scammers focus on these.
The Scam
These products come in myriad forms. Countless companies manufacture them. Moreover, the internet is the place to advertise them. This is also what scammers do. They use fake ads to find clients.
These ads look just like regular ones.
Once you click them, you land on a sign-up page. What happens there? You sign-in. Thus, you provide scammers with your personal information. Yes, the one they can use to impersonate you. Your bank account is one of the required details.
Then, you pay for the wonderous pills. In the end, these might arrive at your doorstep or not. If they do, it’s often a different product. If they don’t, you can’t make a complaint. There is usually no customer support. Also, if you google the company, you’ll only find the sign-up page. The one you used and got scammed. Therefore, avoid buying these products via ads.
Cryptocurrency Scams
Most of these scams are investment scams. What is the problem with crypto investments? Regulations almost lack on this market. Therefore, scammers can prey on people. They know that the chances to get caught are low. Moreover, even if they are, it’s hard to prove their guilt.
In many cryptocurrency scams, fraudsters pose as prolific traders. They post videos and photos showing a lavish lifestyle. They claim they’ve made a fortune in crypto. Then, they encourage others to invest in this market too.
To help them out, they recommend a specific coin. And they promise significant returns. Many people fall for their lies. Consequently, they buy the respective coins. It all goes well for a short while.
The Scam
The value of the coin keeps growing. This is a direct consequence of the increasing investments. Then, the value suddenly plunges. Why? Scammers also owned lots of those coins. They lured investors in. Afterward, they waited for the price increase. Finally, they cashed out. They sold most or all of their crypto coins. Consequently, their value dropped.
These schemes usually end with many people losing money. Yet, it’s impossible to prosecute the scammers. Even if the authorities are aware of their deeds. The crypto market is very volatile. Extreme value shifts happen overnight. More than often, there is no scam in the middle. Whoever invests in this market automatically accepts the risks.
Stay safe in 2022! Avoid shady offers that might translate into one of the scams above!
Courtesy of Clearwater Management
