It is never easy to spot a scammer trying to get you to perform or provide content in a delegitimate way, especially when you are working hard and eager to make sales.
Here are some tips for dealing with and avoiding scammers while you are camming, and also in general.
Keep Your Private Information Private
First and foremost, protect your privacy and identity information. Nothing can make you more vulnerable to scammers than when they have your personal information and details. There is never a reason to share this information with a customer.
Get Your Payment First
Always require payment — tokens, gold, whatever — be made, confirmed and completed through a reputable site before providing your services or time. Beware though that this won’t protect you against chargebacks in the event a scammer uses a stolen credit card, but it will help in many situations.
Pay before you play will reduce the amount of regret and browbeating you will give yourself when faced with a customer that sends you bogus information or promises to tip after you perform and never follows through. Or, the information turns out to be fake. This happens way more often than we’d like.
You are NOT a Credit Card Processor
Never accept a person’s personal credit card number or information and perform transactions on your own. It is considered identity theft, and you using your computer creates an I.P. transaction that they can use to claim you used their information fraudulently. Now, you not only lose the money and/or the sale, but you have also committed a crime.
Those Who Pay, Do
Customers usually don’t make you jump through hoops if they are going to pay. When customers seem like they are expecting too much from you before paying, they likely to have no intentions of paying.
Don’t get caught in the loophole chasing a dollar with someone who hasn’t shown they ever intend to pay.
Don’t Fall for a Dangling Carrot
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many times scammers will entice you with big promises to tip you well or offer such a great deal on something that you can’t resist!
For instance, Craigslist may be offering something like a brand new iPad that retails at $300 for sale for $50. The likelihood that anyone would be selling an item worth $300 for $50 is unusual and should raise immediate suspicion. The item is likely stolen, broken and/or they are luring you to meet them with no good intentions.
Getting a great deal is awesome, but when something seems like it’s too good, definitely be cautious.
TRUE STORY: I responded to a craigslist ad offering FREE size 6-7x clothes. He emails me back & shares that his ex gf left him for another woman. He hopes that a similar sized woman will come claim these clothes & fall in love w/him. ?♀️
— ?QueenofBBW.com?? #QUEENOFBBW #PLATINUMPUZZY (@PlatinumPuzzy1) August 30, 2019
Do Your Research
Some say its your worst enemy, but Google is also your best friend. Whether it’s a caller saying you owe the IRS or asking you to send an iTunes gift card, a fake rental ad where a beautiful home is listed way below the normal rental price in a particular area or an email from someone saying that you are going to be arrested for not paying a debt, you can Google these things before you do anything else.
Google email addresses, phone numbers or any other information associated with the claim. Even use that information along with words like “fraud,” “scam” or “review.” Oftentimes, whatever you are being presented with has already been reported to scam sites.
Research is always a great way to defend yourself from a scam.
No Checks Accepted!
You are not Costco. Never, never, never ever let someone send you a check, deposit a check or cash a check and send back money through another money source like MoneyGram or Western Union.
If — and this is a big if — the check does clear through your bank by mistake, it still can be fraudulent and you have now committed a crime. It is a common scam that exists and has been around for years where the person sends you a fake check, you get the money and then you send them guaranteed cash.
Trust No One
I know it seems cynical to not trust anyone but if you are the least trusting person on earth, then you are also the least likely to get scammed person on earth. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and caution is a great way to proceed in any situation.
If you are going to trust anyone, trust yourself! Trust your instincts, and don’t let desperation guide your decisions.
Spot Imposters
Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity or a company you do business with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call or an email. The amount of time and energy you can save by just placing a call to verify anything and everything is significant.
Don’t Believe Your Caller ID
Spoof apps are a real thing. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see when your phone is ringing aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up.
If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine. You can also Google the phone number during your call to determine if it’s real or not.
Don’t Pay Upfront for a Promise
Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. Don’t do this. If you do it, they will probably take the money and disappear.
Hang Up on Robocalls
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.
Talk to Someone
Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or, just tell a friend. If you are doing something that sounds unusual, they are likely to tell you.
Consider How You Pay
Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don’t. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. That’s also true for reloadable cards (like MoneyPak or Reloadit) and gift cards (like iTunes or Google Play). Government offices and honest companies won’t require you to use these payment methods.
Whoosh, that’s a lot of watchdogging!
With the age of technology, scammers are getting more and more creative with expanding their reach and finding more ways to get you to part with your hard-earned money. The same rings true with those who scam you to do things for them without having to pay.
Consider the tips we’ve mentioned here to help protect yourself and spot criminals and freeloaders before they scam you!
@killahydro2005 Thanks for following me! pic.twitter.com/YtT9HPsJHP
— ?QueenofBBW.com?? #QUEENOFBBW #PLATINUMPUZZY (@PlatinumPuzzy1) August 29, 2019
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Kari “Platinum Puzzy” Anthony is an events trailblazer in the adult industry community. She created and organized BBWFANFEST, the first BBW niche trade and awards show recognizing plus size performers, and BBWCAMHOUSE — the first live 24-hour voyeur house filled with curvy adult stars, cam performers, dancers and more. Email her at platinumpuzzy@ynotcam.com.
Header image by Pixabay via Pexels.
