In bygone years the town square was the nucleus of the town, it was the nerve center for all activities. It was where old men came to linger in the sun, and argue politics, deals were negotiated, and philosophers gathered to debate. The town square was the prime location for a store front, and the hub of the civil scene. Bands played there, socials were held in the square, new neighbors were introduced to the town folks, the latest news, and gossip was spread via the town square. The kids playground was located in the town square, and young lovers sit on the park bench for courting. The traveling snake-oil salesman, knew the square was the core of any town; so he would position himself dead center of the square to hawk his goods. He would offer love potions, quick weight loss formulas, and any other scheme imaginable to con the trusting town folks out of their money.
The days of the local town square are long-gone. The town square has been laid to rest, the funeral procession has passed by us and the death dirge for the town square was sung so long ago, I doubt anyone remembers the lyrics. In today’s global economy, and universal village a virtual town square has emerged; Facebook.
Facebook, to the tenth power, functions as the virtual local town square in our universal village. It is the ideal place to debate, socialize, promote a businesses, and campaign for a political office. Everyone has a Facebook account; celebrities, politicians, and even royalty.
Facebook has linked people from around the world with one another, except for social media these connections would not have been made. It has educated us on far away cultures, enable us to stand in solidarity with oppressed people groups, and has aided in the rise of the political voice of the non-politician. Together on Facebook we mourn the passing of men and women who were shift changers in the course of history. Without a doubt in a global community, Facebook has emerged as the new town square
Social media is a phenomenal which has greatly improved our individual and, collective lives. It has united old friends, lost loves, and different generations of family members. It is a mega for networking, social media campaigns have boosted the number of organ donors, prevented suicides, and aided law enforcement in the apprehension of criminals. It has launched the career of artists, and musicians; Macklemore met Ryan Lewis on social media, it is the birthplace of their collaboration. Lonely hearts have found lasting love through social media; Macklemore not only met Lewis, he also met his fiancee through social media.
While the majority is positive, unfortunately there can also be devastating negatives to a virtual town square. Facebook is a draw for con-artist, and every kind of wacko, much like the local town square was the draw for snake-oil salesman's to hawk their trickery. Social media is notorious for romance scams, business fraud, thieves roam social medias in search of opportunities, identity thief is rampant, pedophiles span social media for prey, and it is a haven for bullies, and stalkers.
Since Facebook is the virtual global town square, then your accounts on social media networks are your virtual homes. Facebook, as well as other social media networking sites, does all within their power to safeguard their users; the rest is up to you. You take precautions to protect yourself, your family, your home, and your possessions; you must be as diligent to safeguard to your social media accounts.
While teens are making a mass exodus from Facebook in favor of Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Vine, Pheed, and a growing number of other social media sites. Facebook continues to gain users among those 35 years of age, and older. Facebook’s own statistics on the number of active users as of September 2013 are 1.19 billion monthly active users; 80% of their daily users are outside of the US and Canada.
Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook to the Harvard University student body in February 2004. In infancy the social network name was “The Facebook”. The name was derived from the publication distributed, by some colleges, to students at the beginning of the year. The publication profiles members of the student body for the purpose of students getting acquainted with fellow students.
The popularity of Facebook grew at such a rapid pace among Harvard students, that within months Facebook accounts were extended to other Boston universities, eventually all US colleges had access to Facebook. In 2005, Facebook was made available to UK colleges, and US high school students. In September 2006, Facebook was extended beyond educational institutions to anyone with a registered email address.
In September 2006, when Facebook was opened to the public, there was an environmental shift in the network. The profile questions on Facebook have remained in the same genre as in its conception. The questions are oriented toward, and pertain to youth, who are prowling the network for dates, or crushing on a fellow student.
Although there are enormous benefits to meeting new people on social networks, you need to be cautious. According to Facebook’s own statistics your posts have the potential of reaching over a billion viewers.
Whatever you post on Facebook, regardless of your privacy setting, is not private. A good example is when Prince Harry’s pictures on his private Facebook account became front page news. The scandalous photographs on Prince Harry’s page was exposed to the world, proving nothing on a social network is private.
The safe environment of college, and high school kids roaming Facebook to connect with other kids is over. Even though the set-up questions of your account remains the same, unless you are a young single using Facebook as a dating site, you do not need to answer a list of intrusive questions. The list of ‘your favorites’, and your personal history provides a bounty of information for scammers.
Though you should not display the answers to these questions however, we both know, you will because it makes you feel like a rockstar. Since warning you not to answer these questions is not the solution. I will arm you with knowledge on the ways scammers use your personal information, so you are alert to the different scams, and can avoid them.
Scammers are not harmless pranksters. Scammers are criminals, their intentions are to harm you, and your love ones.
Impostor Scam
Your personal information, posts, and photographs on Facebook, give scammers a bounty of information useful to con you.
The Enticement:
You receive a Facebook message, call, email, or text from someone claiming to be a family member or friend who needs you to immediately transfer money to help him out of a dire situation.
The Hook:
Using the personal information you have provided to scammers via your Facebook account, it is surprisingly easy for scammers to impersonate a trusted friend, family member, or organization.
Handling the Situation:
If someone calls claiming to be a family member in trouble, check the story out with other people in your family. You also can ask the caller questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer, provided you haven’t already exposed this part of your personal life on Facebook.
The “Nigerian” Scam
This scam is characterized by sob stories, flowery language, and promises of a pot of gold at the end of the Nigerian rainbow.
The Enticement:
The scammers behind these messages claim to be officials, businessmen, or the surviving spouses of former government honchos whose money is tied up temporarily. They offer to transfer large sums of money into your bank account if you will pay the fees or “taxes” so their money is released. Scammers will used “official” looking documentation, and trunks of fake money to verify their claim. In some cases, you may be asked to travel abroad to complete the transaction.
The Hook:
The intention of this scam is to steal your money, and/or your identity. There will be an additional request for money to help with emergencies, and/or medical expenses, these request will continue until your resources are drained. The scammers along with your money disappear.
According to State Department reports, people who have responded to these emails have been beaten, subjected to threats and extortion, and in some cases, murdered.
Handling the Situation:
Do not respond to sob stories asking you to send money to help out a stranger, or a family member without first speaking directly with that family member. Someone is up to no good, and is trying to manipulate your emotions.
If you've lost money to one of these schemes, call your local Secret Service field office. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.
Online Dating ScamScammers create fake profiles to romance people out of money, the scam artist may go as far as making wedding plans with you. Online love interest who ask for money, or other goods are most likely scam artist.
Signs Your Love Interest May Be a Scam Artist:
- wants to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or IM
- claims love in a heartbeat
- claims to be from the U.S., but is traveling or working overseas, or military service abroad
- plans to visit, but is prevented by a traumatic event or a business deal gone sour
Never Give Money to an online love interest & don’t sent money to cover:
- travel
- medical emergencies
- hotel bills
- hospital bills for a child or other relative
- visas or other official documents
- or losses from a temporary financial setback
- and don’t send gifts
Work At Home ScamThe Enticement:
These ads and solicitation promise large profits, be your own boss, while never leaving the comforts of your own home.
The Hook:
The ads don’t say you may have to spend your own money to fulfill the terms of the assignment – placing newspaper ads, making copies of documents, or buying supplies, software, or equipment to do the job. They unusually won’t mention you won’t be paid for all the hours you put in, nor will you be paid if they decide your work is not up to their standards.
Handling the Situation:
Don’t commit your time, or money to a home-based business until you are satisfied with the answer to the following questions:
- What tasks will you have to do?
- Will you be paid a salary or will you work on commission?
- Who will pay you?
- When will you get your first paycheck; how much will it be?
- How much will you have to pay for the program?
- Does the cost include supplies, equipment, and membership fees.
- What will you get for the fees you have to pay?
You should:
- Visit the business in person
- speak with employees,
- Do an internet search of the company, and their promoters along with the key words:
- scam,
- fraud,
- reviews,
- complaints
Weight Loss ScamThe Enticement:
Some messages promise a revolutionary new weight loss product to help you slim down at lightening speed without diet or exercise
The Hook:
These ads prey on your desires to improve your health. Truth is weight loss is achieved by significant changes in your behavior, and nothing less.
Handling the Situation:
Permanent weight loss happens with permanent lifestyle changes. Talk to your health care provider about a nutrition and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.Lotteries and Sweepstakes ScamThe Enticement:
You receive an official looking message informing you, that you have already won a foreign lottery or an online sweepstakes. The letter informs you to receive your winning you must first pay the taxes, fees, shipping costs, or insurance.
The Hook:
It is illegal to play a foreign lottery, this means you could not win a foreign lottery.
Handling the Situation:
An offer to play a foreign lottery is illegal; therefore Ignore all offers to play foreign lotteries, or to enter foreign sweepstakes.From my newest series: Life OnlineResources: US Department of State
