Here Are The Top Seven Sneakiest Scams of 2014

BANGALORE: Over the past ten years, fraudsters have seized the opportunity that comes with the rapid adoption of new consumer technologies.  Mobile phones and social media are all reaching ten year milestones, and now scammers are more active than ever using new technology for their illicit gains.

Apart from all the useful stuff and information, the Internet is also full of scams and fraudulent practices. As old scams get to be known by most people, new ones emerge all the time in order to fool unsuspecting Internet users.

Let’s have a look at some of the sneakiest scams of 2014:

1. Medical Alert Scam

This is a telemarketing scam that promises a 'free' medical alert system, this scam targeted seniors and caretakers. The robocalls claimed to be offering the medical alert devices and system free of charge because a family member or friend had already paid for it. In many cases, seniors were asked to provide their bank account or credit information to 'verify' their identity and, as a result, were charged the monthly $35 service fee.

The system, of course, never arrived and the seniors were left with a charge they had trouble getting refunded. Easy rule of thumb - be wary of 'free' offers that require your personal information upfront and always verify with the supposed friend or family member that the caller says paid for the service.