Sep
4
Classified Tips: Googling Phone Numbers
September 4, 2007 | Comments Off
Yesterday I was browsing through our classifieds looking for a TV to replace one that was hit by lightning. I wanted something in the 19 or 20 inch range, less than $50 bucks, and on my side of town. To save some time in locating something nearby, I used one of my favorite tricks: Googling […]
Jul
19
How Scammer Networks Function
July 19, 2007 | Comments Off
Criminal organizations are well organized. Here is a great floorplan of how all the scammer complexities interact.
http://www.nextwebsecurity.com/PPscamDiag.asp
Jul
9
Latest Spam Phishing Scam
July 9, 2007 | Comments Off
Dear Customer,
Our robot has detected an abnormal activity from your IP adress on sending e-mails… We recommend you to install this patch to remove worm files and stop email sending, otherwise your account will be blocked.
Mailer-Deamon
Scary threat, but the broken English and the link to download malware reminds us that you should never open email […]
Apr
16
FSBO or Realtor: What's Better?
April 16, 2007 | Comments Off
Should you sell your house yourself or use a real estate agent? For some helpful insight, check out the answer in this week's column from the Classified Guys.
Mar
20
To Catch a Con Man
March 20, 2007 | Comments Off
Chris Hansen, NBC Dateline's investigative reporter, cons the scammers. Watch high budget scam baiting with hidden cameras and London hotels. Perhaps, we will see more network news coverage on the scammer problem, not just 419 scams, but overpayment scams, too.
If you have been contacted by a suspicious "buyer" offering to pay more than the […]
Mar
15
Confessions of an Internet Scammer
March 15, 2007 | Comments Off
Brian Ross, investigative reporter for ABC news, catches and interviews a "Nigerian" Scammer. Though he may not actually be Nigerian, he admits to stealing over $80,000 using 419 scams. 419 scams work slightly differently than the overpayment scams typically perpetrated on classifieds. The result is the same. You lose money. Read the Blotter Article […]
Feb
6
You Might Be a Scammer If . . .
February 6, 2007 | Comments Off
If you were going to scam someone, you would try to sound legitimate, wouldn't you? Well, our latest bands of overseas scammers are doing everything they can to sound like a real buyer. Their first contact will simply ask if the item is "Still Available?" Or they might ask if you have pics. Once you […]
Jan
18
Scam School: Local FSBO Thefts
January 18, 2007 | Comments Off
Homeowners selling their home should beware of unexpected "buyers" responding to the for sale sign in the front yard. While one asks about the house, the other steals your jewelry and credit cards. WESH 2 News reports.
Instead of showing the house right away, take their information including work phone and make an appointment to […]
Feb
9
New Site Offers Instant Home Values
February 9, 2006 | Comments Off
Both homeowners and those considering a new purchase are going to love Zillow.com. I just found it this morning, and in about 30 seconds I had an estimate of my home's value in comparison to others in the neighborhood — along with some nifty satellite photos, maps and a chart of my home's increasing […]
Dec
15
Rock Bottom Prices
December 15, 2005 | Comments Off
Ever wonder where to find the best prices? Towards the bottom, of course. Our ads run 30 days. During that time sellers can update the text of the ad. As an ad sinks to the bottom, many sellers lower the price to keep people interested.
Look for the "new and fresh" tag […]