Category: Awards

Scumbag Awards 2017: Biggest Phone Scam

The Fightback Ninja has created the Scumbag Awards 2017 for the scammers and spammers who make our lives miserable through theft of money, time and even identity.

Each week, the Fightback Ninja will select and publicise one or more categories of scam or spam and a list of contenders for the award. You pick the winner by voting online and the awards will be announced in July.

For further information go to https://fightback.ninja/test/scumbag-awards-2017/

Category: Biggest Phone Scam

The Computer Support Call

You receive a call from Microsoft/Virgin/BT to tell you your PC has a virus.

https://fightback.ninja/test/the-microsoft-support-scam/

PCCare247 were one of the worst of these companies

https://fightback.ninja/test/us-government-takes-down-pccare247-scammers/ 

The Missed Call Scam

Someone calls you but stops the call too quickly for you to get to the phone. If you call back you’ll find you’ve called a premium rate number and its costing you up to £4 per minute.

https://fightback.ninja/test/the-missed-call-scam/

Vote by email for your favourite to [email protected]

PPI Calls

According to figures from Citizens Advice, 30 million people, or two thirds of British adults, have already received messages about PPI – and 98 per cent did not give permission to be contacted.

https://fightback.ninja/test/ppi-cold-calls/

Vote by emailing [email protected] and specify category and your chosen candidate.

Do Share this post on social media – click on the post title then scroll down to the social media share buttons.

Scumbag Awards 2017: Nastiest Scam

Category: Nastiest Scam

Natural Disasters

Every time there is a natural disaster, charities and other organisations appeal for help and the public always respond. But there are always scam appeals as well. Scammers trying to take advantage of that generosity and steal money from those who may have lost their homes and loved ones.

Bogus Hotel Bookings

Up to one in every 16 online room bookings is a fake, according to official figures.

Imagine flying to somewhere only to find your hotel booking was fake and you have nowhere to stay. That’s bad.

https://fightback.ninja/test/bogus-hotel-bookings/

Investment in Burial Plots

An unscrupulous business offering burial plots in Rainham Cemetery and promising 40% Returns within 24 months.

They claim that burial space will run out in the South-East within 10 years so buy now and sell back when people are desperate.

https://fightback.ninja/test/this-is-nasty-investment-in-burial-plots/

and https://fightback.ninja/test/further-investment-in-burial-plots/

Vote by email for your favourite to [email protected]

Scumbag Awards 2017: Most Public Ransomware

Category: Most Public Ransomware

Wannacry

May 2017, this stopped several hospitals, doctors surgeries and much more for days before it was stopped.

 CryptoWall

This nasty piece of work encrypts your files and they cannot be decrypted by anyone else plus it deletes any backups. Very common through 2016

Teslacrypt

This targeted specific computer games and charged $500 in bitcoins for the decryption key. In mid-2016 the developers shutdown the ransomware and published the master decryption key and just the word ‘Sorry’

 

Vote by email for your favourite.