How About a Forum discussing Frauds, Scams, and Swindles?

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I notice that there is not a forum devoted to the debunking of various ways that gullible, ignorant people are cheated out of their money and property. We all may know at least one person who has fallen for a sales pitch for a get-rich-quick or work-from-home scheme, only to spend more money than they bring in - if they bring in any money at all!

I wonder how many scams have made victims of WP members, and how many would have been prevented with just a little information?

I would make a rule that disappointment with political and religious leaders and organizations be taboo subjects, but that financial, medical, and income-related scams could be freely discussed and exposed.

What say you?

Perhaps a sticky in one of the existing forums rather than a whole new forum.

Legal issues would be a big worry. You would have to have rules stating that no names be named -- general descriptions of scams and tactics only. However, since people aren't very good at following rules (even on an Aspie forum), you may be opening a huge can of worms. Worms with teeth.

The legal issues could become significant, but only if the claims of Frauds, Scams, and Swindles are untruthful.

Slander is an untruthful oral (spoken) statement about a person that harms the person's reputation or standing in the community - a.k.a. a "Defamatory" statement. Libel is the written or broadcast form of defamation, distinguished from slander, which is oral defamation. Because libel is a "Civil Infraction" (e.g. a "Tort"), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement.

However, it would be up to the "injured" party to prove that the statements were untruthful, that his or her reputation was harmed, or that their community standing was adversely affected. So, the claims of Fraud, Scam, or Swindle would have to be both truthful and fully documented.

Also, I think that the threat of a headline reading, "Alleged Swindler Harasses Autistic Victim" would be something of a deterrent.

While I understand the concern, I don't know whether an entire forum is necessary... or if this is the best location for such, even. A sticky would be my suggestion as a test run.

The real question comes now: does it go in News & Current Events, Random Discussion, or PPR?


M.

I agree it may be worth a sticky somewhere, but not a whole forum. Another issue to consider is the worldwide or local nature of scams. Personally, I already pick up on scams that are international or based in the UK or France through websites or news articles relevant to those regions.

Scams based only in America are not relevant to me. Similarly I'm sure Americans will not be that interested in UK based scams or frauds which make use of loopholes in the law in the UK but not there.

The thread could be an unwieldy beast for the above reasons. WP could also be putting itself in an awkward position too. While UK libel laws in the UK seem to be broadly similar to those in America I can't speak for other countries, and some companies are notorious at heavy handed litigation even if they are in the wrong.

Reservations aside, it does seem like a good idea. I'm surprised that people still fall for Nigerian 419 scams for example and "Your email address has been selected as an International lottery winner" type scam. I have an unprotected web based email address for general use and some of the scam emails it picks up are highly creative and entertaining to read.

Let's take the "You've Won the [foreign place] Lottery" scam.

Did you know that you can not win a lottery without having entered it?

Did you know that lottery entries (tickets / billets) can not be sold across international borders?

Did you know that once entered, you are already registered to win?

Did you know that in many legitimate lotteries, taxes are automatically deducted and collected from the winnings by the respective governments?

Did you know that email notification of winning is invalid in some countries?

Did you know that simply "Googling" the winning number will oftentimes reveal the scam for what it is?

Yet people send hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to a foreign country as registration fees and/or taxes on their winnings, hoping that they will soon be rich, and instead coming to the realization that they've been duped again.

I think an entire forum might be in order, so as to better examine each type of swindle in greater detail, each in its own thread.

But that's just my opinion.

http://419eater.com

i think a topic in a forum woudl be great, my mom even fell into some of these, *and believed them* and since many aspies are nieve, and many do surf wrongplanet every day, i think its great to have that here

Lau, the 419 scam is just one type. What about Q-Ray, Quantum Pendant, and Magnetic Water?

http://forum.419eater.com/forum/

So, with these links, are you trying to tell me ... what?

"It's been done elsewhere, so no need here."

"We could do it here - something like the 419eater folks have done."

"Ooo, LOOKY!! ! I know how to use the linking thingie!"

OK Fnord.

Why don't we have a forum for stamp collecting?
Why don't we have a forum for stained glass?
Why don't we have a forum for custom cars?
Why don't we have a forum for camping?
Why don't we have a forum for DIY?
Why don't we have a forum for X?

We do have forums for the many things which are at least loosely connected with autism.

We do have forums which are of quite general purpose/interest.

We don't have forums that are limited to small narrow interest groups. For that sort of thing, an occasional sticky suffices - with links to places that specialise in the relevant subject.

If you wish to start up a thread dedicated to discussing various scams, by all means do so.

If it proves as popular as you think it will do, maybe Alex will make it into a forum.

You might as well throw in homeopathic medicine too, that's all quackery and snake oil. Well it isn't even snake oil, just distilled water and wishful thinking. I can't believe that there are pharmacies that legally sell the stuff just relying on people's gullibility and lack of scientific knowledge.

Why don't you at least start a thread and see how it goes? Maybe in Random?

I started one in "WrongPlanet.net discussion" and already it's up to its 14th post ...

I'll sell you a forum for frauds, scams, and swindles...

I'll just need a small advance payment to be wired via western union...

Never underestimate the power of the placebo... some homeopathic remedies are sheer quackery; others have a basis in fact (though often misunderstood) and have validity. Sweeping assertions of fact rarely tell the truth.


M.