Avoid Scams and Fraud

Following these common-sense rules:

• DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist.
• NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
• FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
• Studentfilmmakers Magazine and the Website are NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION outside our Online Store, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification".
  All StudentFilmmakers Magazine and Website advertisers accept full responsibility for the claims made by their advertisement. StudentFilmmakers Magazine and Website assumes no responsibility for the content of any advertisements.
  
• NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
• AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.

Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?

• FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
• FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)
• Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
• Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)
• Non-emergency number for your local police department.

Recognizing scams
Most scams involve one or more of the following:

• inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
• Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"
• inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction

For more information about personal safety online, check out these resources:

http://getsafeonline.org
http://wiredsafety.org

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actual scam emails

From: "Mrs.Saltarin Arquillan" <saltarin_ar7@yahoo.com>

Hello My Dear Friend,

Thanks for your kind email and your sincere response to me from this site studentfilmmakers,Little about me.I love sport,swimming,reading and singing.My favorite colour is blue and green. I love sea food, pizza, Chinese food, Arab food, Italian food ,spaghetti, America and other. I love plenty of salad too.

Before I proceed further, please permit me to introduction myself to you. I am Mrs.Saltari Arquilla. A complete citizen of Philippines, 42 years old living in the Philippines, widow to the late former minister of finance in Philippine who died on 19th of July 2005.

I inherited a total sum of $21.5 Million American dollars from my late husband, the money was concealed in a metallic trunk box and was deposited with a security and finance company in Abidjan Cote D' Ivoire, that was because I needed a maximum security/safety of my consignment and no body nor government organization can trace the where about of the money until I am ready and prepare to claim it. but the Secuerity company didn't know the real content of the box, because it was deposited as a family valuables.

My main purpose of sending you this mail is because of the way I found you and perhaps trustworthy to give you this priority of shipping the box of money to any address that you think is very secure and save in your country for onward lodgement your account for the purpose of future investment with your percentage of which we shall chat on soon. I will send you the Authorization Certificate to call them in my next mail which is the Certificate of deposit that they gave me on the very day when the box of money was deposited under their company. I give thanks immensely for your co-operation as I look forward to hear from you for quick conclusion of this business.

The percentage will be your reward for all your moral and financial assistance during the period of moving the money to your country.Please if you can assist me I will be very grateful. And repay you many times over,declaring your willingness to assist me in this venture.
Waiting for a very quick response from you so that i can send you my photo to you to see me in my next reply as soon as i hear from you again. Have a nice time and remain blessed
Best Regards,

Mrs. Saltari Arquilla.