Scam Types dot Com

Cancer

A highly emotive subject.

I would imagine most people nowadays have a family member, or know of someone, who has suffered from cancer.

Though there may one day be a cure for cancer (a topic I will express my feelings about soon), that is of little comfort to those who have already lost a loved one or who know someone who is currently suffering from this hideous disease.

Many people who contract cancer subsequently die.

Death leads to fear, and fear opens the door to fraudsters.

DONATING TO A BAD CAUSE

There is, as of yet, no cure for cancer.

Allegedly.

There is, however, extensive research going on all around the world as scientists attempt to find that miracle cure.

Quite obviously, such extensive research doesn’t come cheap and several organisations rely upon charitable donations in order to continue their work into finding a cure for cancer.

It is also obvious that people who have been affected by cancer, either themselves or through someone they know, are likely to make the most generous donators.

Unsurprisingly, callous and greedy scam artists have found ways to divert these funds into their own pockets by -

• Impersonating genuine charity workers taking donations in the street
• Spoofing well-known cancer charity websites that accept online donations
• Sending emails with fake headers that make them look like reputable charities

If you are not careful you may unwittingly make a donation to such fraudsters and may never realise it.

THE ILLUSIONARY CURE FOR CANCER

Whether a cure for cancer has been found, may be found or will be found is, perhaps, debatable.

However, the fact that many people want to believe it will happen is quite significant to the scam artists.

Such cancerous fraudsters take full advantage of their victim’s insecurities, inviting them to believe in just about anything that may offer them a reprieve from their fate.

A prognosis of cancer is so shocking to some people that they do not realise that many forms are actually treatable, or at least controllable.

Scammers will always be lurking, waiting to paint a dark picture black and then offer their solution. At a cost.

One of their most profitable ventures is to persuade cancer sufferers to embark on ineffective courses of medication in preference to the treatment their doctor may have prescribed.

As already mentioned, there is, as far as we are led to believe, no wonder cure for cancer. If someone offers you one then surely that should be a seriously big red flag shouldn’t it?

If an email, website or stranger offers you the cure that the world’s greatest scientists have failed to find then why would you trust a word they say?

Likewise, if they were to try to debunk treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation then shouldn’t you be asking why?

Understandably, when someone has terminal cancer they will likely be prepared to try anything but then that’s exactly what these con artists are banking upon.

HOW TO AVOID CANCER SCAMS

Simply being aware is the the main defence against cancer fraud.

Whether you are a donator or a cancer sufferer, it is extremely important to consider where exactly your money is going.

It is also advisable to be aware of what the standard treatments are so that you can assess whether any alternatives you or your loved ones are being offered are likely to be viable or not.

Lastly, if you are making a donation then choose a nationally recognised organisation and visit their website directly, or make a donation via their publicised phone numbers - never click on links in emails or trust the contact details contained within them.