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Editorial: If you want to avoid scams, delete the spam
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Opinions
Spam is arguably the most annoying thing about the Internet.
It clutters e-mail inboxes, it's hard to get rid of and it can even rob people of thousands of dollars.
Two Eastern students found out the hard way by falling for e-mail and online scams that cost them heavily.
Whether it's through Craigslist or some made-up Nigerian prince, the University Police Department is warning all students to beware of such schemes.
In Wednesday's edition of The Daily Eastern News, university police officer Ryan Risinger said he thought avoidance of online scams would "be common sense."
Despite two students falling for it, Risinger is right.
These types of scams have been going on for years, and still more people fall into the trap and lose large amounts of money.
Let's face it: No deposed African royalty is going to reward you for giving out your friends' e-mail addresses, nor will you find a brand new car for sale on Craigslist at a ridiculously low price.
As the saying goes, it's too good to be true.
If such offers appear, one should look at them with intense scrutiny to determine whether the offer is legitimate.
The Nigerian prince scam is easy: Just delete the e-mail.
That's it.
You won.
Congratulate yourself and your checkbook.
But Craigslist scams are harder to trace because they are cleverly disguised as legitimate advertisements.
If you're shopping for a vehicle and you come across a questionable ad, just look for a hyperlink.
Risinger said a hyperlink in a Craigslist article is a dead giveaway of a scam and such ads should be avoided.
The media and law enforcement warn people over and over not to fall for these schemes, yet some people slip through the cracks.
How is this happening?
In an age where the Internet is at the forefront of nearly every component of everyday life, how are some people still na've to the idea of "bad people" on the Internet who just want to scam them out of some cash?
Are people in denial?
Do they not think something like this could ever happen to them?
Do they really believe the ludicrous opportunities offered by online messages?
Whatever the case, people need to be aware of the dangers that may lie in their inboxes and should understand the threats involved in online scams.
Knowing how to defend yourself against online scammers could literally save you thousands of dollars.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
It clutters e-mail inboxes, it's hard to get rid of and it can even rob people of thousands of dollars.
Two Eastern students found out the hard way by falling for e-mail and online scams that cost them heavily.
Whether it's through Craigslist or some made-up Nigerian prince, the University Police Department is warning all students to beware of such schemes.
In Wednesday's edition of The Daily Eastern News, university police officer Ryan Risinger said he thought avoidance of online scams would "be common sense."
Despite two students falling for it, Risinger is right.
These types of scams have been going on for years, and still more people fall into the trap and lose large amounts of money.
Let's face it: No deposed African royalty is going to reward you for giving out your friends' e-mail addresses, nor will you find a brand new car for sale on Craigslist at a ridiculously low price.
As the saying goes, it's too good to be true.
If such offers appear, one should look at them with intense scrutiny to determine whether the offer is legitimate.
The Nigerian prince scam is easy: Just delete the e-mail.
That's it.
You won.
Congratulate yourself and your checkbook.
But Craigslist scams are harder to trace because they are cleverly disguised as legitimate advertisements.
If you're shopping for a vehicle and you come across a questionable ad, just look for a hyperlink.
Risinger said a hyperlink in a Craigslist article is a dead giveaway of a scam and such ads should be avoided.
The media and law enforcement warn people over and over not to fall for these schemes, yet some people slip through the cracks.
How is this happening?
In an age where the Internet is at the forefront of nearly every component of everyday life, how are some people still na've to the idea of "bad people" on the Internet who just want to scam them out of some cash?
Are people in denial?
Do they not think something like this could ever happen to them?
Do they really believe the ludicrous opportunities offered by online messages?
Whatever the case, people need to be aware of the dangers that may lie in their inboxes and should understand the threats involved in online scams.
Knowing how to defend yourself against online scammers could literally save you thousands of dollars.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
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