In these litigious times, scammers are having a photo-perfect day!
Case in point: Every time you subscribe to a new internet program or service, you are asked to read a lengthy legal agreement and commit yourself to the terms and conditions. We know that some of the most subscribed sites include graphic, photo and cartoon downloads. We also know that many people don’t actually read the entire legal blurb, but instead they curse down to the bottom of the blurb, click on “Agree” and proceed with downloading the program.
Scammers know that this occurs, and they also know that few people keep records of what they agreed to. Ahhhh...a perfect situation for the picture (or graphic) scam. Here’s how it works. The scammers check out websites at random to see which graphics appear. Then, as the website owner, you receive an official looking letter from a lawyer stating that you have violated the copyright of ABC Images by posting their copyrighted picture on your site. The penalty is $800.00 (or similar). They explain that unless you wish to be formally served with a legal notice from the courts, hire a lawyer and defend your actions—which you will inevitably lose ---and then court costs will be added to the penalty, then it is in your interest to pay now.
For most people, the lawyer’s letter is enough to get them to write the cheque. For others, they may wish to contact the legal entity who sent the letter and try to negotiate. Some are successful in reducing the penalty by a few hundred dollars. Then they write the cheque.
The problem with all this is that in many cases, the lawyer’s letter is written by a scam artist who is weighing the odds that you will not be able to prove ownership of the picture or graphic in question, and faced with even higher penalties, you will want to pay your way out of the situation and put this behind you. If you Google “Getty Images Scams” you will get a better idea of how this scam works.
Once you are aware of it, you can avoid it.
Some scams are based on “response”, meaning that all the scam artist wants to know, is whether the email message they have sent (or the letter they have mailed) actually elicits a response. As far as emails are concerned, the scammers probably send out hundreds of thousands. Once you respond, they have you. Once you say “remove me from your list”, they have you. They know that your email is a “live” one and they will not only keep sending you scamming letters, but they will sell your live email address to other scammers. In some desperate (and scary) cases, people have been personally approached based on the fact that they responded to a scammer’s email and were then tracked down.
BUT! Just in case—it is always a good idea to remove whatever photo the scammers (or in some case legitimate companies looking for alternative revenue sources) are referring to and substitute with a photo or graphic that you are 100% certain is permissible to use.
The best response to an email scam (eg I found $8 million dollars and wish to share it with you—or I notice that our copyrighted photo # GY567RDYZ is being used on your website) is to ignore it—send it to your junk folder or create a scam file and store it to educate your staff or peers about what is out there. The same goes for letters you may receive ‘out of the blue’. Even if you go to your own lawyer to ask for advice, in a sense you have lost because that brief consultation may end up costing you several hundred dollars.
The lesson in all this is to keep records of what programs you download, upload or subscribe to, so you can have a paper trail (well actually an electronic trail) to consult the next time you receive a lawyer’s letter out of the blue. Some scams don’t have to be picture perfect if they are framed in the context of due diligence, all in the context of savvy business practices!
-Steve Gillick, President and COO, CITC
Showing posts with label scams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scams. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Travel Scams flourish during high season
Some recent travels down south blasted some travel myths to pieces as well as confirmed that travel scamming is still an active industry. Near and south of the equator, where the weather is hot and Canadians flock, travel scams are in high gear.
Airport Exchange Rate: A good rule of thumb is to exchange money at the arrival airport. The exchange rates are generally very good, the currency you receive is legal, and you can avoid the hassle of trying to change money or travellers’ cheques at hotels or banks during your holiday. BUT this is not always the case. At a recent experience on arrival at one South American airport, the exchange booth just outside of immigration actually offered one of the worst exchange rates in the country. Where the Canadian dollar was valued at 25% of the peso (100 pesos = $25.00 dollars), the exchange being offered was only 16% on the peso. Therefore the rule of thumb would be that travellers need to be acutely aware of the exchange rate and if they are in dire straits to change money—and the rate is unfavourable—then only exchange what you need (for the taxi) and then deal with the situation at the hotel or a city bank or an ATM.
Just a note on ATMs: Travellers should be aware that ATM machines are a great convenience when travelling abroad but
1) There is usually a charge at the destination for cash withdrawals
2) There may also be a charge on your credit or debit card for withdrawing money overseas
3) You must be very discreet about the cash you withdraw and very vigilant about protecting your PIN number
4) The exchange rate for the transaction may not be the current daily rate but the rate applicable when the credit card company actually processes the transaction.
Counterfeit Scam: The second part of the rule of thumb is that in general, the money you receive at the airport exchange is ‘safe’. That is to say, it is legal. Again, this myth was shattered as I received a number of counterfeit bills- mixed in with regular bills- at the very same South American airport exchange booth. The counterfeit bills show a poorly drawn watermark of the person featured on the respective bill, while the legitimate bills show a clear watermark. Not something everyone would know on arrival at a destination. And to top it off, after the bills are handed to the client, the clerk hands out a flyer on how to recognize illegal currency!
So now the new and improved rule of thumb is to research foreign currency on the internet, find out how to distinguish legitimate from counterfeit bills, and then when you do exchange money, check every single bill—in front of the clerk at the exchange booth. Despite the long line ups at some exchange booths and the snide comments from others in line that you are taking too long, it is essential that you do this check to avoid problems later on. The advice is not to even move to the side to do this, lest the clerk accuse you of switching bills. You must do it right in front of the clerk as you count out the bills you have received and hold them up to the light to see the watermark. A tip-off that something may be problematic is when you are handed large bills and you ask for smaller currency and the clerk claims not to have any. Chances are they are concerned that you will hand back the illegal bills and they will have to give them to someone else—who may easily detect them. As it was in our case, a taxi driver refused one of the bills and then later that day I asked the hotel why he did this and they put the bill through a detector to confirm that it was counterfeit.
Could the taxi driver have switched a legit bill for an illegal one? Yes—and that is a scam in itself (see below)—but in this case I held on to the bill as driver looked at it—so no switching took place.
The Taxi Switch: In some countries, the tourism organizations actually warn you about scams perpetrated by taxi drivers. If you are unfamiliar with the currency of the country, it is quite easy to mistake one bill for another. The scam takes place when the customer hands the driver a 20 dollar (or peso) note and within a split second, the driver displays a 2 dollar (or peso) note and says that the client made a mistake. If you are not paying attention, you as the customer will fall for this. All the driver did was prepare in advance for the switch and when you handed him the ‘20’ he dropped it and showed you the “2” he already had in his hand. So you end up paying much more for the ride.
The solutions? 1) if it’s night time, ask the driver to turn on the light before you hand over any money for the fare. If you are at a hotel or restaurant, get out of the taxi first and then pay the driver 2) look at each bill carefully and announce what you are giving the driver. For example if the fare is 35 pesos, say out loud “here is ‘20’ and ‘10’ and ‘5’ . 3) Another recommended method for countering the switch is to note the last 3 digits in the serial number of the bill you are handing the driver and if he switches the bill, bring this to his/her attention or ask that he call the police immediately.
How you react to this or any scam really depends on the situation and of course at no time do you want to put yourself in any danger. Some scams are unavoidable. Sometimes you have to take a loss. Scam artists are career professionals. As always, fore-warned is fore-armed.
-Steve Gillick, President and COO, CITC
Airport Exchange Rate: A good rule of thumb is to exchange money at the arrival airport. The exchange rates are generally very good, the currency you receive is legal, and you can avoid the hassle of trying to change money or travellers’ cheques at hotels or banks during your holiday. BUT this is not always the case. At a recent experience on arrival at one South American airport, the exchange booth just outside of immigration actually offered one of the worst exchange rates in the country. Where the Canadian dollar was valued at 25% of the peso (100 pesos = $25.00 dollars), the exchange being offered was only 16% on the peso. Therefore the rule of thumb would be that travellers need to be acutely aware of the exchange rate and if they are in dire straits to change money—and the rate is unfavourable—then only exchange what you need (for the taxi) and then deal with the situation at the hotel or a city bank or an ATM.
Just a note on ATMs: Travellers should be aware that ATM machines are a great convenience when travelling abroad but
1) There is usually a charge at the destination for cash withdrawals
2) There may also be a charge on your credit or debit card for withdrawing money overseas
3) You must be very discreet about the cash you withdraw and very vigilant about protecting your PIN number
4) The exchange rate for the transaction may not be the current daily rate but the rate applicable when the credit card company actually processes the transaction.
Counterfeit Scam: The second part of the rule of thumb is that in general, the money you receive at the airport exchange is ‘safe’. That is to say, it is legal. Again, this myth was shattered as I received a number of counterfeit bills- mixed in with regular bills- at the very same South American airport exchange booth. The counterfeit bills show a poorly drawn watermark of the person featured on the respective bill, while the legitimate bills show a clear watermark. Not something everyone would know on arrival at a destination. And to top it off, after the bills are handed to the client, the clerk hands out a flyer on how to recognize illegal currency!
So now the new and improved rule of thumb is to research foreign currency on the internet, find out how to distinguish legitimate from counterfeit bills, and then when you do exchange money, check every single bill—in front of the clerk at the exchange booth. Despite the long line ups at some exchange booths and the snide comments from others in line that you are taking too long, it is essential that you do this check to avoid problems later on. The advice is not to even move to the side to do this, lest the clerk accuse you of switching bills. You must do it right in front of the clerk as you count out the bills you have received and hold them up to the light to see the watermark. A tip-off that something may be problematic is when you are handed large bills and you ask for smaller currency and the clerk claims not to have any. Chances are they are concerned that you will hand back the illegal bills and they will have to give them to someone else—who may easily detect them. As it was in our case, a taxi driver refused one of the bills and then later that day I asked the hotel why he did this and they put the bill through a detector to confirm that it was counterfeit.
Could the taxi driver have switched a legit bill for an illegal one? Yes—and that is a scam in itself (see below)—but in this case I held on to the bill as driver looked at it—so no switching took place.
The Taxi Switch: In some countries, the tourism organizations actually warn you about scams perpetrated by taxi drivers. If you are unfamiliar with the currency of the country, it is quite easy to mistake one bill for another. The scam takes place when the customer hands the driver a 20 dollar (or peso) note and within a split second, the driver displays a 2 dollar (or peso) note and says that the client made a mistake. If you are not paying attention, you as the customer will fall for this. All the driver did was prepare in advance for the switch and when you handed him the ‘20’ he dropped it and showed you the “2” he already had in his hand. So you end up paying much more for the ride.
The solutions? 1) if it’s night time, ask the driver to turn on the light before you hand over any money for the fare. If you are at a hotel or restaurant, get out of the taxi first and then pay the driver 2) look at each bill carefully and announce what you are giving the driver. For example if the fare is 35 pesos, say out loud “here is ‘20’ and ‘10’ and ‘5’ . 3) Another recommended method for countering the switch is to note the last 3 digits in the serial number of the bill you are handing the driver and if he switches the bill, bring this to his/her attention or ask that he call the police immediately.
How you react to this or any scam really depends on the situation and of course at no time do you want to put yourself in any danger. Some scams are unavoidable. Sometimes you have to take a loss. Scam artists are career professionals. As always, fore-warned is fore-armed.
-Steve Gillick, President and COO, CITC
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
De-myth-tifying Travel Pt. 2
As a follow up to our myth-busting entry, here is a discussion of the notion that travel is inherently dangerous.
MYTH THREE: I will never be safe when I travel
Safe travel means using common sense, which we will define as the exercise of caution, being aware of your surroundings and your possessions, thinking before acting and not allowing yourself to be bullied, manipulated or pressured.
How do you do this? Learn about common travel dangers, scams and issues at your destination. Research your destination and ask your travel agent for advice. Check with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Worldwatch-Intelligence and Security Awareness Database.
Just because your destination is considered safe doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. Don’t let your guard down. Common, avoidable mistakes that can spoil your trip and endanger your safety, include:
· Placing your wallet in your back pocket
· Slinging a bag with a long strap over your shoulder
· Showing off expensive jewelry
· Stowing valuables in an obvious pouch
· Playing street gambling games
· Not checking credit card statements after your return
This is a tiny list of potential travel mistakes. So how can you ever be safe when traveling? Use common sense. This will let you minimize risk so that you can enjoy your destination instead of worrying about your safety.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Scam Artists Go for the Gold at the Olympics
The Olympics in the have brought together thousands of tourists, sports fans, Olympic aficionados, and inevitably, scam artists. Athletes are psyched to ‘Go for the Gold’ and so are the scam artists, except it is your “gold” that they are after.
Forewarned is forearmed: Here are 5 quick and easy scams that you can watch out for.
- Hey you dropped your wallet! Someone yells “Hey, you dropped your wallet” and waves a wallet in the air. You immediately locate the wallet on your person and let the “Good Samaritan” know that it is not yours. Now they know where you keep your wallet. The scammer calls an accomplice to let them know what you are wearing and where to find the wallet. You should leave your wallet in your hotel and taken along only the cash you need when traveling.
- Want a Free Ticket? A number of Olympic visitors will undoubtedly fall for the lure of obtaining a too-good-to-be-true ticket for one of the major events, only to find that tickets are scanned at the point-of-entry to the event and the one you just purchased is counterfeit. Only buy event tickets from official sources. Otherwise you are just throwing away your money.
- Heading straight for the circle route. There are a variety of transport options for leaving the airport, the hotel or an attraction in any city. If you choose to hire a taxi, there is a small chance that you will find one of the “bad apples” in the taxi barrel. The scam starts with: “Is this your first time in the city?” If you are not familiar with the area you could fall for the “consturction up ahead” story and end up agreeing that the taxi should take the longer, but less congested –but more expensive route to the hotel. Download a map, check out the routing before you arrive, and save yourself some bucks!
- Photo Marathon. Most visitors will bring their camera or camcorder to the Olympics and some will fall for the “let me take your photo for you” routine. The scam artist will have you pose and then run off with the camera! Or he recreates the famous movie comedy scene where he asks you to keep backing up so he can get the perfect photo. You fall into a snow drift and he runs off! Take care when someone approaches you to use your camera!
- Don’t get too distracted. A scam artist pretends to trip and fall in your direction and in the process spills hot chocolate all over you. Your clothes are wet and you are far from your hotel. You are upset and distracted from watching your possessions. While the scam artist apologizes, his or her partner has already walked off with your camera, wallet, purse or anything else not attached to you. This scam works well with mustard, ketchup. Coffee, and in some cases, even fake blood. Only once you regain your composure will you discover that your cash is missing.
For more information on Travel Scams, visit our site.
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