3 reasons why people are (still) getting scammed online

The following video has been shared on Facebook by some of my friends in Malaysia. I took particular interest to it as it was a 60 Minutes Australia production and was surprised to find that the Nigerian scammers were found in Kuala Lumpur.

After watching it I can't help but wonder how people are still getting scammed after the internet has been around for so long and there are just SO MANY CASES! So, here are my opinions:

3 Reasons Why People Are (still) Getting Scammed Online

1. Greed

"You have won a gazillion dollars from the lottery in Mordor! To access your money, please wire us all your life savings for the transaction fee and you will be so OMGWTFBBQRICH!!!"

 Note the style of "CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL".

Familiar Font Art from Microsoft Office 97?

Why in the world would anyone fall for this? I've received several emails/calls like this before. First off, I've never even BEEN to that particular country they claim I won the lottery at; secondly, their command of English was way off.

Scammers are so successful because everyone's looking for that "ticket to fortune". Out of 100 emails they send out, there would be 1 blinded by dollar signs and blindly hand over thousands of dollars over an untracable & nonreversible transaction through Western Union & Moneygram. 

2. Desperation

Like in the video this poor old lady got scammed after being involved in an online romance. I can understand that you can get emotionally attached to a person online but to send them your life savings and rack up a debt? That's just going way too far.

 Tries to buy plane ticket to visit online lover - Credit Card DECLINED

But I guess there really are very deperate people who will do anything just to find love. However, the moment it involves money, I suggest you run. Not only cause I'm a cheapskate, but I worked damn hard to earn my money and why should I part with it for someone who says sweet nothings in bad English and not to mention never even seen?

For some weird reason no one ever suspects why these scammers do not own a webcam... Hmm...

3. Stupidity

This is probably the MAIN reason why people are still getting scammed.

Please people, if it's too good to be true, IT PROBABLY IS! Such a simple rule and yet people still get scammed. 

Fry makes a point.

It may not be valid nor reasonable, but still... a point.

Educate yourself about scams, you don't have to do full research just Google the "company" or individual's name and you'll see if they're blacklisted on websites that compile these scams. If anyone you don't know contacts you about money, don't respond!

IT IS THAT SIMPLE!!!

That being said, the Nigerian scammers caught in Malaysia wouldn't be the last ones. There are definitely more and with Malaysian police, I highly doubt they'll be arrested. The only reason why this video of arrest exists is because it's an Australian effort. Otherwise its *cough*bribe*cough cough*

I do have one question though, is the scammer that stupid to collect the payments at Western Union with his own name? If yes, that means he doesn't have the means of obtaining a fake credential with his fake name.

But that being said, does this mean the lady in Australia sent money to a name OTHER than her online lover? That's just really dumb...

If she DID send it to the name of her online lover, and a different man picks up the money with transaction details but not with the identification of the receiver's name... Why doesn't Western Union just make it mandatory for photo identification of the receiver's name to collect the funds?

*shakes head* Humans...

Birthday Tag

Thanks to Conan Cat, I got this birthday tag for a lame reason.

According to him, he tag me cause "Because you’re in Perth and you’ve met Daniel even though he’s from KL. Lol"

How lame is that???? o___O

Haha... okay la.. better stop before he come whack me... XD

Here's the instructions:

1. Go to Wikipedia.
2. Type in your birthday and search your birthdate : 28 October
3. From the results, list down 3 events, 2 births and 1 holiday.

Here I go...

3 events:

1834 - The Battle of Pinjarra occurs in the Swan River Colony in present-day Pinjarra, Western Australia. Between 14 and 40 Aborigines are killed by British colonists.

Basically what happened was a massacre where Aboriginal men, women and children were attacked in an invasion of their land by the British.

I heard about this battle before in my Cultural Psychology class when I was doing my degree... If you look at Australia's history, it's rather bloody and ugly when it came to the Aboriginal issue.

1981 - The heavy metal band Metallica is founded.

I loved "Enter Sandman"

1985 - The English-language version of the musical Les Miserables premieres in London.

I watched this musical in Perth which was held as a fund raiser for an MS society. I really enjoyed it. I love musicals :)

2 births:

1955 - Bill Gates, American software executive

Oh, wow... Bill Gates... Will I be as rich as him? XD

1982 - Mai Kuraki, Japanese singer

Hmm... not too sure if I've heard any of her songs though...

1 holiday:

Czechoslovakia - granted its independence from Austria-Hungary (1918); This is a holiday in the Czech Republic and Remembrance Day in Slovakia.

This was the only holiday available... =P

Done!

Now to tag others *evil snicker*

1. Colleen
2. Alibaba de Albuquackquack
3. Erlynda
4. Daniel
5. Samantha

And the reason is: "Cuz I feel like it" XD

8 Random Facts About Ryu (Meme)

Dragon head tagged me... so... here it is...

HERE ARE THE RULES:
> Each blogger must post these rules first.
> Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
> Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
> At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
> Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I can't gain weight. Yes, I've tried and I've tried... nothing ever seems to work. Ice cream, KFC, all kinda junk foods, meat meat meat and even protein shakes...
   
2. I studied Psychology but I don't think I learned a single thing. Maybe that's why I'm in Marketing now... XD
3. I love gadgets. Especially mobile phones. Sony Ericsson is my favourite.
4. I write poems, short stories and even attempted a novel once... needless to say, I failed miserably -______-"
5. I thought myself Photoshop. That's why my designs are so retarded.
6. I always put 'Away' in MSN to avoid talking to some people that I do not like. Evil? Yes, I am.
7. I've used the nickname/alias 'Ryu' since I was 13 or 14.
8. Back in highschool, I actually danced on stage with a guy in front of the whole form. It was a play, he was Cinderella and I was Prince Charming. No, I'm not kidding.

Who should I tag? I think quite a few people did this already...

1. Jingz
2. Anne
3. Samantha
4. Queenie
5. Kang
6. Willy
7. Angelicz
8. (insert name here)

Lol... wanted to tag Mich and Erlynda but I think they did this already ^^

Anyways, don't forget about Topic 1 or Topic 2. I will tally the "votes" tonight. The selected Topic will be posted soon... (not gonna make any promises just incase I can't keep it XD)

Currently it looks in favor of Topic 1...