TV Patrol featured yet another ill-fated victim of internet scams. This woman, an Overseas Filipino Worker based in the Middle East, received an online message from someone she thought to be her sister urging her to purchase cellcards she could sell. After sending almost a hundred thousand pesos through her cellphone, much to her horror, she later realized that she had been duped. In her words, "hanggang ngayon, pinagbabayaran ko pa rin ang katangahan ko." Yahoo! Philippines confirmed receiving many reports of online crimes such as this. While they admit that they are unable to regulate much of the activity that happens online, for which reason many scammers can swindle to their heart’s content, Yahoo! claims to be exerting efforts in educating people on how to protect one’s self from such incidents. In a nutshell, they said much of it is really just common sense.
To a certain extent, I would have to agree. To illustrate, one of my relatives from the province asked me what I thought of this “business proposal” she received through her e-mail which was basically soliciting funds for a start-up business with a supposedly assured and attractive rate of return. I was actually a bit saddened and in disbelief that she would have even, for a moment, considered it to be legitimate. Business proposals made by strangers through e-mail is already one big red flag by itself. Another example was my sister’s friend who had sent “load” to someone posing as my sister using another number. First of all, my sister’s cellphone is on a postpaid plan. Secondly, she has never, in their many years of knowing each other, asked for a similar favor from that friend, or even borrowed money, for that matter. We just found it a bit strange that someone like my sister’s friend, a savvy and sophisticated business person, could fall for such a crude old cellphone scam. While there are far more well-thought out and sophisticated online scams that exist, it’s rather alarming that the best of us can fall prey to the most obvious and dubious schemes.
Yahoo! created Yahoo! Safely, a website which gives advice on how a person can safeguard one’s self from becoming a victim of cybercrime. Basically, it’s nothing revolutionary and much of the tips are really just based on plain old common sense. Don’t get me wrong, though. I am far from saying that it’s always the victim’s fault. I concede that there are really some instances where not even the utmost diligence of very cautious persons could have saved us. But when we are in a position to help ourselves, then we ought to do so. For the most part, it pays to be a cynic.
There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them. Charles Caleb Colton
To a certain extent, I would have to agree. To illustrate, one of my relatives from the province asked me what I thought of this “business proposal” she received through her e-mail which was basically soliciting funds for a start-up business with a supposedly assured and attractive rate of return. I was actually a bit saddened and in disbelief that she would have even, for a moment, considered it to be legitimate. Business proposals made by strangers through e-mail is already one big red flag by itself. Another example was my sister’s friend who had sent “load” to someone posing as my sister using another number. First of all, my sister’s cellphone is on a postpaid plan. Secondly, she has never, in their many years of knowing each other, asked for a similar favor from that friend, or even borrowed money, for that matter. We just found it a bit strange that someone like my sister’s friend, a savvy and sophisticated business person, could fall for such a crude old cellphone scam. While there are far more well-thought out and sophisticated online scams that exist, it’s rather alarming that the best of us can fall prey to the most obvious and dubious schemes.
Yahoo! created Yahoo! Safely, a website which gives advice on how a person can safeguard one’s self from becoming a victim of cybercrime. Basically, it’s nothing revolutionary and much of the tips are really just based on plain old common sense. Don’t get me wrong, though. I am far from saying that it’s always the victim’s fault. I concede that there are really some instances where not even the utmost diligence of very cautious persons could have saved us. But when we are in a position to help ourselves, then we ought to do so. For the most part, it pays to be a cynic.
There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them. Charles Caleb Colton
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