written by Art Ladaga (based on the experience of Mr. Armand Bengco)
You open your email account, checking every message that you got for the past weeks and months. As you continued browsing, you came across an email from an unknown source. You opened to see what it’s all about. The message says that you won a huge sum amount of money. You couldn’t believe it. YOU’RE AN INSTANT MILLIONAIRE!
But wait. There’s a catch.
Before you receive your “prize,” you need to do something. You’re required to provide personal info and send a certain amount. The sender assures that once they obtained the “necessary requirements,” the money will be sent to your house.
You may have the following questions on your mind: “Is the message true?” “Is the sender a legitimate or real entity?” “How did I end up on their email list?”
What you got is a spam, an irrelevant or absurd email send to a wide variety of people. And the offer being presented to you is none other than a SCAM! Every day, millions of people receive spams containing ridiculous or outrageous messages. Financial scams are one of them. Even if the essence of the message is unthinkable, there are still people who will fall for them hook, line, and sinker!
If you receive an email from an unknown source, here are some important questions to ask to see if it’s a scam:
- Do you know the sender?
- Did you have dealings with the sender before?
- Did you remember participating in this “activity?”
- Is it possible for the sender to give you such an amount of money? How/where did it get it?
If you are in doubt with any of the details, IGNORE AND DELETE THE MESSAGE AT ONCE!
Here is a sample spam about getting one’s financial benefits. Observe how this email was immediately identified as a scam:
Constant vigilance is a necessary trait to have, especially in money matters. It can definitely save you from making erroneous and costly decisions!
Mr. Armand Bengco is the Executive Director of Colayco Foundation and the General Manager of KSK-SMP Coop.
Art Ladaga is the current Programs Development Officer of Colayco Foundation for Education.