For those of you who work in banks, shipping centers, the post office, tech support, any place dealing with money orders or Western Union, and so on, I have two things that have me curious.
1- How do you recognize customers who are victims of email fraud? I'm talking about those who have or are about to send lots of money to Africa or some other foreign country, thinking that they're going to get even more money back somehow (long-lost rich relative died, distribute the wealth of a dying philanthropist, sneak money out of a corrupt country's bank, etc.). Is it blatantly obvious what they're doing, or do you have to listen for clues in conversation? And is there anything you can do to stop them?
I ask because I have co-workers who seem clueless about these email scams. One almost fell for the "great part time job" of cashing checks and wiring 90% of the money elsewhere. Another actually responded to an email offering a free purebred puppy (provided that the adopter sends $200 to Africa to safely ship the puppy to the US). Fortunately, I've been able to talk them out of it.
I can imagine, though, that someone working at, say, a grocery store's service counter and issuing money orders, might have some rules about not telling customers what they should or should not do with their money. Frankly, I'd probably break those rules pretty quickly if I could tell the customer was about to get the shaft like that.
2- I'm concerned for most people who get roped into these scams, but at the same time, I can think of a few customers I've met who could stand to learn a lesson the hard way. Any good stories along those lines?
1- How do you recognize customers who are victims of email fraud? I'm talking about those who have or are about to send lots of money to Africa or some other foreign country, thinking that they're going to get even more money back somehow (long-lost rich relative died, distribute the wealth of a dying philanthropist, sneak money out of a corrupt country's bank, etc.). Is it blatantly obvious what they're doing, or do you have to listen for clues in conversation? And is there anything you can do to stop them?
I ask because I have co-workers who seem clueless about these email scams. One almost fell for the "great part time job" of cashing checks and wiring 90% of the money elsewhere. Another actually responded to an email offering a free purebred puppy (provided that the adopter sends $200 to Africa to safely ship the puppy to the US). Fortunately, I've been able to talk them out of it.
I can imagine, though, that someone working at, say, a grocery store's service counter and issuing money orders, might have some rules about not telling customers what they should or should not do with their money. Frankly, I'd probably break those rules pretty quickly if I could tell the customer was about to get the shaft like that.
2- I'm concerned for most people who get roped into these scams, but at the same time, I can think of a few customers I've met who could stand to learn a lesson the hard way. Any good stories along those lines?
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