Editorial: The N.J. swindle – From watered down booze to crooked politicians, fraud is pervasive

Editorial: The N.J. swindle – From watered down booze to crooked politicians, fraud is pervasive

Scams are nothing new. They’re as old as humanity, stretching back to the Garden of Eden where the serpent enticed Eve to eat of the apple.

They’re as current as the morning e-mail with its promises of instant weight loss, incredible virility and $1 million from the rightful heir to the throne of Ambazonia for just a small token of trust, viz. a money order for $10,000.

Con artists do a brisk and predatory trade with a thousand variations on the basic theme of fleecing the unsuspecting. Posing as grandchildren stranded in another country, they call older people and plead for immediate cash to post bail. That scam made the rounds in Ewing earlier this year.

You may have gotten a call from a “technician” claiming to be with Microsoft seeking access to your computer and credit card information. Phishing scams are legion, of course, as are countless swindles, stings and rip-offs.

https://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2013/08/editorial_from_politics_to_bas.html