E-scams >scams on the web

E-scams

 

Since the beginning of time people have found ways to trick others for their own advantage. Now is no different and with the rise of the web came the birth of new scams. Human nature rears its ugly head once again, this time in cyber space. As awful as these scams are they do feed or curiosity and cause us to pause at the creativity of these people that develop these intricate ways of, well for lack of a better term “screwing people over”.  Lets take look at some of these scoundrels ideas and scams. One interesting con is called “Search Engine Data Merging”. A company will claim to be able to get others businesses at the top of a google search, which is very appealing to these companies. They can actually accomplish this but by unethical practices. By getting millions of uninformed consumers and the general population to download online free tracking software or spyware on to their computers. These scam artist can really change your search engine results. The unsuspecting people have no idea that the results of their searches are being manipulated. The profits of these pay for keywords scams are not really know but it is predicted to be in the millions of dollars.

Another e-scam is email lottery scam, which is when a email is sent to the victim telling them they won a big cash prize in a random drawn international lottery. By sending massive amounts of these emails out they prey on the few that are naive enough to fall for these scams. The respondents are required to give a large amount of personal information than a payment before they receive the prize. Of course they never get a prize but they keep getting asked to pay more fees until they put it together and stop paying. Needless to say these victims are not the most savvy of people. Another e-mail scam that is being used is telling people that they have received their stimulus check from Obama’s stimulus package but must go through them to get it, again requiring fees to collect something that does not exist.

On to the next e-scam, internet dating scams is another con that preys on the weak or desperate. The con artist will make a profile on a dating site and pretend to be interested romantically in the victim. The scammer will gain the trust of the target by showing loving feelings even using photos that are not the real person and sometimes not even the same sex as the actual person. Eventually they start asking for money or credit card numbers usually using tales of woe and sob stories to play the heart strings of their prey. 

Again in our next example the targets are people that also may be a bit desperate. Weight loss scams selling all types of products that promise weight loss and never work. From berry pills that are supposed to cause appetite suppressant effects to weight loss patches that are useless. Transdermal Products had to pay $180,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission charges for lying and making false claims about their weight loss patch product. Which doesn’t seem like much of a deterrent when you think of the profits that can be made. 

The list continues and is changing everyday, every development in communication and technology will give birth to a new type of con artist. Some people have no morals and feel no sympathies for others and only care for their own gain and profit. This type of predator has always existed and always will. The only way to beat these people is through knowledge, common sense and a health skepticism of things. The web has produced a perfect atmosphere for some of the darkest sides of human nature. It has given the cover of its virtual nature in cyber space, in anonymity and seclusion. It also has the beauty of connection and freedom of information that I believe in the conclusion far out weigh the negative.

 

Links 

 

http://professionalwebservices.blogspot.com/2005/07/advertising-scam-search-engine-data.html

 

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/email-lottery-scams.html#email-lottery-scams

 

http://online-dating.suite101.com/article.cfm/internet_dating_scams

 

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/12/top_ten_scams.html

 

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/fat_patch.html

Hate sites>Paper

Matthew Carman

 

 

 

The ethical, social and moral ramifications of hate sites on the internet.

 

 

A first google search for hate sites on the internet brings up only articles and links to subjects that only discuss hate related material on the net but another google search on white power returned actual sites that exist on the web. A surreal feeling runs through one’s heart as one realizes the reality of these sites in the world. In theory they seem like only an idea or a topic of discussion but the actuality of there existence makes one pause and reflect on the horrors of racism and the evolution of social conscience that lead to civil rights and continue to do so. In fact almost all liberal social causes do at some point become status quo given enough time. It is just another facit of evolution in essence, the social and ethical evolution of the human species.  A  feeling of sadness creeps in when the realization of these schools of thought become part of the same air, on the same  planet that one lives and breathes. Also a fear of ones own frailty is taken into account in the face of such aggression. I ponder to myself as I research  “to them I am a race traitor”. As one walks through the dark side of internet hate sites, one is bombarded by extreme views of racism and propaganda. The site www.zogsnightmare.com actually has a menacing voice that yells at the viewer upon entering “Zoe’s nightmare, this is a white only web site no niggers , spicks , faggots , jews or other mud!” Another site www.whitehonor.com has the phrase “Hail Hitler” following the mouse and trailing behind. White honor’s mission statement points to the idea that the  non-violent approach hasn’t worked and eludes to taking up arms, even having a logo of a gun that reads powered by hate. These sites tell stories of its members spreading tales and lies from African American to Pakistanis and visa versa. All in an effort to foster conflict where tensions already exist. Their hope is that these races will hurt each other and further there descent toward one another.

 

White power merchandise is also available on mousetrap.com with racist music that offers  terribly offensive song titles such as “Some niggers never die” , “Looking for a handout” and “White separation”.  Along with T-shirts with disturbing images and sayings like “Unhappy Jew year” on top a drawing of Hitler with confetti and a drink in hand. Another shirt has a drawing of a child in the Hail Hitler hand out position that reads “Talk to the hand”. One even depicts a hand giving the finger reading “Hey immigrant Fuck You!”.  All geared to ignite the base of these ignorant ,evil minded, hate driven racists. Some of these hate sites are reddened with lies and false claims, videos of Obama cut up and pieced back together to make him look stupid. A desperate attempt to make a eloquent speaker look foolish. 

 

So the question arises should these hate groups have the right to proclaim their views. At first thought I believe these organizations should be protected by the Freedom of speech, or the freedom of expression, which is recognized in international and regional human rights law. But what if the ideals push ideas of violent or aggressive activity upon its intended groups or victims of its hate rhetoric? The answer is yes and no. 

 

These sites do have the right to preach there beliefs and to use any means public to proclaim what they think to be truths. It is important that all have the ability to speak freely in the public forum even if these views do not support all of its members and causes some social unrest. The first reason of this is simple, it gives us all the basic right to speak our minds openly without censorship or oppression. It even stimulates thought to hear views of all kinds of ideas, which in turn can provoke positive action or at the least critical thinking. Also it is important to keep all views of which may be provocative and hate driven in the public eye in order to keep watch of these organizations. 

 

Another point that would have to be given some credence, is the fact that these groups come across as ridiculous to the mainstream. They seem evil and even a bit silly to any rational person. So the question arises of the actual impact a hate group could actually make. Could it be said that subtle hate and acceptable forms of racism, homophobia and prejudice are more dangerous to the world than these outrageous groups? Maybe at first look it may seem foolish, but isn’t true? Its not the KKK that has caused the majority of hate and the propaganda of lies on the public. Real hate is cloaked under religion, money and a moral arrogance that digs its claws into a society. 

 

In conclusion we must protect freedom of speech even if it is disturbing and offensive. Especially if it is at odds with the mainstream. Yet a watchful eye must be kept on the evil doers and counterattack is of utmost importance. Also a provocation of violet acts must be recognized and stopped in order to protect its citizens. 

 

~Viva Love!

 

“Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing.”

 

~ Anais Nin

The ethical, social and moral ramifications of hate sites on the internet.

This paper will be a research based evaluation of the ethical, social and moral ramifications of hate sites on the internet. It will be broken down into two main areas of inclusion, first being a description of the climate of the present state of this group and its members. The second part will be an opinion based assessment of the ideals and legal issues that arise in light of its controversial attitudes and ideals. It will discuss the utter ridiculousness of its assemblage standpoint by breaking down its principles and lure with facts and Postulation by the author. It will also consist of the argumentation of the importance that these hate sites to have the right to proclaim their views without censorship or suppression. 

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