If you’re young and poor, a student or an unemployed graduate, the Vancouver Police Department and Better Business Bureau just released the top ten ways to get rich in Vancouver.

But all jokes aside, when life gives you lemons, check the fine print because ain’t nothin’ fo’ free. It turns out that it’s not only the Canadian government sinfully trying to steal your personal information online. Seven of out of the ten scams this year involved the internet.

Vancouverites have been shafted out of $70 million dollars just in the last year. That’s $18 million more than 2013. So, if you pride yourself on being smarter than the rest of us, you should read this article before you donate your hard earned income to one of the 100 fraudulent Ebola charities that have recently popped up.

The best way to avoid these scams is by educating yourself, your friends and your precious elderly grandparents who are not only gullible but also the most technologically-incapable people out of all of us.

We have sandwiched together the BBB and VPD’s list and prevention tips to provide you Top 10 scams and how to avoid them.

Top 10 Scams in Vancouver

Astroturfing: If you check online reviews before going to a place to eat, drink, hike or buy something, you may be getting scammed. Often times people can take advantage of mediums like Yelp or Trip Advisor, which are intended to give honest opinions, and give themselves positive reviews to falsely advertise their product or business.

VPD’s how to spot the scam: “Read through all the reviews to get a general sense of what others are saying about the company. Use other review websites and BBB.org to get a second opinion. Look out for bad grammar and spelling which could also show it is a fake review.”

Catphishing: When someone poses as another person on a social media or online dating website, whether it be for a relationship or just to coax you into providing personal information. As entertaining as it may seem on MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show, Nev and Max don’t always come to your rescue. According to the BBB Canadians were scammed of almost $13 million though Catphishing 2014.

VPD’s how to spot the scam: “The person asks to talk or chat on an outside email or messaging service so their encounter with you cannot be tracked on the dating site. The person claims to be from this country but is currently traveling, living or working abroad. The person will ultimately ask you to wire money or credit card information due to an emergency like a sick relative or stolen wallet. You can spot a catphisher if the person’s photo is a stock image on Google.”

Enterprise Fee Scheme: This is when someone you don’t know reaches out to you for a small amount of financial assistance, now, promising a generous repayment, later. Be cautious, it could even be someone posing as a old high-school chum. According to the CBC, “They will likely be asking for an upfront payment to cover transaction costs with grandiose promises of big returns.”

VDP’s How to spot the scam: “Scammers are moving away from email and taking to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Watch out for overly promotional language about the ‘next big thing’ or something ‘going to the top of the charts.’ Don’t respond to direct messages about investments or stocks that come to you via social networks or text message. Resist the temptation to repost, retweet, or redistribute information about a stock that’s being heavily promoted on social networks or the internet. Remove companies or people from your social networks who aggressively promote investments. Use the Report Fraud button at InvestRight.org to report investment promotions you know or suspect to be illegal.”

Affinity Fraud: This scam is the most manipulative. It’s a case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Someone will enter a chat room, or an online community forum, pretending to have the same things in common as the rest, like religion, nationality, culture etc. then take advantage of the bond built on that common factor. According to the BBB this scam is the most common in religious communities. They also warn that “The scammer could even be a family member as they weave their web and take your money to cover the pot holes of their Ponzi scheme.”

VPD’s how to spot the scam: “Promises of high returns with little or no risk (there are no exceptions to the rule that higher returns mean higher risk). Someone (often someone new) in your group starts talking about how to build wealth through special investments only they know about. The person is ‘just like you’—whether through ethnicity, religion, occupation, interests, or other common bond—and uses that connection to foster your trust. Sometimes signs of conspicuous wealth can tip you off. And, any suggestion that you should keep the investment a secret is a sure give-away.”

Curbers: If your wanting to buy a car from someone locally on Craigslist, an unlicensed dealer, or through your social circle: beware. Often these people change the history of the car and avoid telling you of liens, accidents and other deal breakers. The worst case is when the car is, in fact, stolen.

VPD’s how to spot the scam: “They have the same phone number listed for many cars and ask, ‘Which car?’ when you call. Curbers will say that they are selling the vehicle for a friend and will come up with a sad story. They will also rush you into buying and will request that you meet them at a parking lot. Cash is typically requested as payment. They may also want you to lie on the transfer form. Be sure to see if the name or location on the vehicle documents match the curber’s ID. Remember, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers can report a curber and find a licensed dealer at www.vehiclesalesauthority.com.”

Lottery Scams: This is the one to warn your grandmother about. You will receive a letter in the mail claiming you have won millions but first you must send a $30 “processing fee” which will include personal information. You not only lose the money sent but if you comply with the scam then you’re more likely to be contacted by scammers again.

VPD’s How to spot the scam: “Never pay up-front for any prize. A legitimate prize offering will never require you to pay anything. Be suspicious of free gifts. Always remember, if it sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Consumer Protection BC urges British Columbians to sit down with family members who might be vulnerable and explain how these types of scams work. Report these types of scams to Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre Toll Free at: 1-888-495-8501.”

The Insta-scams: If you’re on social media, use Instagram or Facebook you’ve probably seen these. Just remember, if it’s too good to be true, it is. These scammers will post a link to a contest which re-directs you to a website with a quiz trying to get your credit card information. Sometimes they’ll will ask you to share or like the post as a requirement of the contest. That’s also a lie, it’s a way of spreading itself through your social contacts to scam more people.

VPD’s How to spot the scam: “If the profile name mentions ‘giveaway’ or ‘free’ in its name, it is likely a scam. If all this poster ever posts is pictures for free stuff, it is likely a spam account. If the picture redirects you to a form do not share personal information, like an email address, or a password. Be wary of any new apps that promise free ‘likes’ or followers to build your network.”

The Unknown Caller: The Unknown Caller or the Telemarketing Scams occur when a stranger from Microsoft, or any other company, cold calls you out of the blue to tell you that your computer has been hacked or injected with a virus then asks you to quickly wire money to them.

VDP’s how to spot the scam: “Any cold call you receive should ask for the caller’s name, and other verifying details including a phone contact for a callback and end the call. If it is someone who claims to be a family member, check with other relatives. If it is a service-related company, search for the company’s contacts on the website and look out for any scam warnings posted online. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau. Never give out your credit card information or wire money to a stranger.”

Pretender Scam: This is a tricky one to spot and it’s quite aggressive. It’s a scam targeting businesses. It sends an invoice or bill by an “authorized” service provider claiming to be “webhosting, website domain registration or trademark copywriting services,” according to the VPD. It sends an invoice for their services and threatens to involve collections if the amount is not paid.

VPD’s how to spot the scam: “Be wary of final notice invoices that create a false sense of urgency. If you have not heard of the supplier, it may be just a fraudulent invoice. Look out for fine print that states that this document is only a form of advertising and not an invoice — a common tactic of fraudsters. The scams generally becomes easier to spot once the business owner creates their own list of authorized vendors and suppliers and ensure that there are strict controls on purchasing and accounting.”

VPD’S SCAM OF THE YEAR

Celebrity Gossip Spam: I can assure you Justin Bieber has not had a sex change. So, if a website links you to learn more about Kim Kardashian’s new lesbian lover it’s a scam which will redirect you to a quiz. By tempting and tricking you into clicking for juicy celebrity gossip they either make money from advertising agency’s on their website or insert malware into your computer.

VPD’s how to spot the scam: “If the video or content posted on your social media website seems to be about something scandalous that involves a celebrity, do not click through. Consider checking out the information from a trusted news source first. Don’t believe a celebrity is dead, just because Twitter says so. The headlines are attention grabbing for a reason, and users should not help spammers to do their dirty work by sharing the links on their social media accounts.”

Aside from these ten, there are countless other scams out there, like having your information compromised when you shop at Home Depot, Target or Staples which happened last year or when you unknowingly donate to a bogus charity. My personal favorite is when my captain calls me to inform me I’ve won a free cruise.

Just remember to double check anything suspicious which sounds too good to be true. Sometimes just a simple Google of the situation can confirm that it is, indeed, a scam. I’ll leave you with the famous words of Annie Walker, played by Kristin Wigg in Bridesmaids, “You cannot trust anybody, ever.”

Written by: Sarine Gulerian
Photo Credit: Fosforix