Is It a Scam or Is It Real?

Question 1

You see an ad on television advertising gold coins. Is it a legitimate offer?

A. No, because gold coin sellers are notorious for exorbitant markups.
B.Maybe, maybe not.
C. Yes, because the station wouldn’t run the ad if it were a scam.
D. Yes, because the price of gold is going up.

Question 2

You get a call from this government agency. You don’t believe it is legitimate. You could be right because more scammers pose as employees of this agency than any other.

A. The Social Security Administration.
B. The U.S. Postal Service.
C. The Federal Unemployment Agency.
D. The Internal Revenue Service.

Question 3

Some websites charge $9.95 for voter registration or to change your political party. Is this a reasonable fee?

A. Yes, some sites charge as much as $20.
B. No. Many sites charge less than $5.00.
C. No. They can both be done for free elsewhere.
D. Yes, it’s not the best rate, but it is reasonable.

Question 4

A lot of scammers try to get your money via the charity route. It’s a good idea to avoid donating to any charity that is not familiar to you. Which form of charitable solicitation is least likely to be a scam?

A. By e-mail/Internet.
B. By mail.
C. By phone.
D. Door to door.

Question 5

The incidence of bedbugs is on the rise lately and so is the number of bedbug control scammers. Research entomologist Richard Pollack suggests this is the best method for ridding your house of bedbugs.

A. Ionic or ultrasonic devices.
B. Aerosol “bug bombs.”
C. An insecticide “cocktail.”
D. Electromagnetic devices.

Question 6

According to Scam Alert, what type of organization is the most frequently victimized by hackers?

A. Hospitals.
B. Law enforcement agencies.
C. Large universities.
D. Financial institutions.

Question 7

Congratulations! You just won $8,000,000 in the Jamaican lottery! You got that e-mail, you bit, and you wired them $400. That was a mistake. But it would be a much greater mistake if you did this.

A. Notified the IRS of your good fortune.
B. Dialed the call back number for further instructions.
C. Contacted the Jamaican Lottery.
D. Called the Better Business Bureau.

Question 8

Scammers actually have a way to create a phone number that’s familiar to you, such as your bank, appear on your Caller ID. This might cause you to reveal information that could lead to identity theft. What’s this technique called?

A. The Phone Dupe.
B. The Friendly Fakeout.
C. Caller ID spoofing.
D. Dial-a-Dope.

Question 9

You get a call from someone claiming to be from the electric company saying your electric bill is overdue. They ask for your account number for verification purposes, and your credit card number. Why is this probably a scam?

A. A representative would have your account number on screen.
B. You’re pretty sure you paid your last bill.
C. You don’t recall getting any past-due notices.
D. A representative would never ask for a credit card number.

Question 10

According to the FBI, older Americans are frequent victims of Internet scammers because they have nest eggs and because of this.

A. They are less likely to report being swindled.
B. They are not as adept on the Internet as younger people.
C. They tend to leave their computers on for long periods, making access easier.
D. They frequently are not even aware they have been swindled.