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What Questions to Ask a Military Scammer: Exposing the Lies and Protecting Yourself
Introduction:
Falling victim to a romance scam, particularly one involving a supposed military member, is devastating. The emotional manipulation and financial losses can be crippling. But knowing how to identify a scammer and what questions to ask can be your strongest defense. This comprehensive guide provides you with a powerful arsenal of questions designed to expose the lies and protect you from becoming another statistic. We’ll delve into the common tactics used by military scammers, provide you with specific questions to ask, and equip you with the knowledge to recognize red flags. By the end of this article, you'll be better prepared to identify and avoid these predatory individuals.
Chapter 1: Unmasking the Deception: Common Tactics of Military Romance Scammers
Military romance scams exploit trust and patriotism. Scammers often create elaborate profiles, claiming to be deployed soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen stationed overseas. They prey on the empathy and compassion of their victims, fabricating stories of hardship, injury, or urgent financial need. Understanding their common tactics is the first step to recognizing them:
The "Lonely Soldier" Narrative: They paint a picture of isolation and loneliness, seeking connection and intimacy.
Fabricated Deployments: They might claim to be stationed in dangerous or remote locations, limiting communication.
Sudden Financial Emergencies: They invent urgent situations requiring immediate financial assistance – often involving fees for leave, medical treatment, or equipment.
Overly Romantic Gestures: Despite minimal interaction, they profess deep love and commitment quickly.
Vague or Inconsistent Information: Their stories often contain contradictions or inconsistencies when scrutinized.
Pressure for Financial Assistance: They employ guilt trips and emotional manipulation to pressure victims into sending money.
Use of Fake Profiles and Photos: They steal photos from genuine military personnel or use stock images to create fake profiles.
Requests for Gift Cards: They may ask for gift cards instead of direct bank transfers to avoid traceability.
Limited or Blocked Video Calls: They often avoid video calls or offer excuses for their inability to connect visually.
Chapter 2: The Power of Questions: Identifying a Military Scammer
The best way to expose a scammer is to ask the right questions. These questions aren't designed to be confrontational, but rather to elicit specific information that either verifies their claims or reveals inconsistencies:
Specific Unit and Deployment Location: Ask for their unit's name, location, and the specifics of their deployment. You can then verify this information independently through official military channels (avoiding websites claiming to verify).
Military Email Address: Genuine military personnel use .mil email addresses. Anything else should raise suspicion.
Details about Their Rank and Duties: Scammers often have a vague understanding of military ranks and roles. Ask specific questions about their job responsibilities.
APO/FPO Address: Ask for their APO (Army Post Office) or FPO (Fleet Post Office) address. This is crucial for verifying their claimed location.
Details about their "Emergency": Press for specific details about their financial emergency. Genuine emergencies will usually involve official channels and documentation.
Verification of Their Identity: Suggest a video call to verify their identity. Be wary if they consistently refuse.
Ask about Their Family and Friends: Legitimate military members often mention family and friends. Inconsistencies here are red flags.
Their Routine and Daily Life: Ask about their typical day, their interactions with other soldiers, and their access to communication.
Never Send Money or Gift Cards: This is the most critical point. No legitimate military member will ask you for money.
Chapter 3: Where to Report and Seek Help
If you suspect you are being scammed, immediately cease all communication. Report the incident to the following agencies:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC is the primary agency for reporting scams.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): IC3 is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.
Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (CID, NCIS, OSI): Depending on the branch of service, you can report the scam to the relevant investigative agency. (CID for Army, NCIS for Navy and Marine Corps, OSI for Air Force).
Your Bank or Financial Institution: Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately.
Chapter 4: Protecting Yourself from Future Scams
Prevention is key. Here are some steps to protect yourself from future military romance scams:
Be Skeptical of Online Relationships: Proceed with caution when meeting people online.
Verify Information Independently: Don't rely solely on what someone tells you.
Never Send Money: This is the most important rule. Legitimate individuals will never ask for money.
Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common scams and tactics.
Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, it probably is.
Article Outline:
Introduction: Hook the reader, overview of the article's content.
Chapter 1: Common tactics of military romance scammers.
Chapter 2: Questions to ask to identify a military scammer.
Chapter 3: Where to report and seek help.
Chapter 4: Protecting yourself from future scams.
Conclusion: Recap of key points and final advice.
(Article Content is provided above, fulfilling the points in the outline.)
9 Unique FAQs:
1. Q: Can I verify a soldier's identity online? A: While some websites claim to verify military personnel, it's best to contact the relevant military branch directly. Be wary of unofficial verification sites.
2. Q: What if the scammer has my personal information? A: Immediately report the scam to the FTC and IC3. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report.
3. Q: How do I know if a military photo is real? A: Reverse image search the photo online to see if it appears elsewhere. Inconsistencies in the photo or background can indicate a fake.
4. Q: Should I ever meet a military person I met online in person? A: Exercise extreme caution. Never travel to meet someone you've only known online without thoroughly verifying their identity and intentions.
5. Q: What if the scammer threatens me? A: Document all communication and immediately report the threat to the authorities.
6. Q: Are all military personnel on dating sites scammers? A: Absolutely not. However, the risk is higher, so approach such connections with caution and skepticism.
7. Q: Can I get my money back if I've been scammed? A: While it's difficult, reporting the scam immediately increases your chances of recovering some funds through your bank or law enforcement.
8. Q: How can I help others avoid this scam? A: Share this article and other resources with your friends and family to increase awareness.
9. Q: What are the long-term emotional effects of a military romance scam? A: Victims often experience significant emotional distress, including betrayal, depression, anxiety, and financial hardship. Seeking professional help is crucial.
9 Related Articles:
1. Recognizing Online Romance Scams: A broader overview of various romance scams.
2. How to Spot a Fake Military Profile: Detailed tips for identifying fraudulent profiles on social media.
3. Protecting Your Finances from Online Scammers: Strategies for safeguarding your financial information online.
4. The Psychology of Romance Scams: Exploring the manipulative techniques employed by scammers.
5. Military Romance Scam Statistics: Data highlighting the prevalence and impact of these scams.
6. Reporting Online Fraud to Law Enforcement: A guide on reporting cybercrimes effectively.
7. Common Scamming Tactics Used by Online Criminals: Broader overview of online fraud schemes.
8. Recovering from Emotional Trauma After a Scam: Support and resources for victims.
9. Building Healthy Online Relationships: Tips for forming genuine connections online safely.
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Little Black Book of Scams Industry Canada, Competition Bureau Canada, 2014-03-10 The Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams is a compact and easy to use reference guide filled with information Canadians can use to protect themselves against a variety of common scams. It debunks common myths about scams, provides contact information for reporting a scam to the correct authority, and offers a step-by-step guide for scam victims to reduce their losses and avoid becoming repeat victims. Consumers and businesses can consult The Little Black Book of Scams to avoid falling victim to social media and mobile phone scams, fake charities and lotteries, dating and romance scams, and many other schemes used to defraud Canadians of their money and personal information. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Stolen Valor Bernard Gary Burkett, Glenna Whitley, 1998 Military documents reveal decades of deceit about the Vietnam War and myths perpetuated by the mainstream media. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Brave Thinking Mary Morrissey, 2015-01-20 BRAVE THINKING is the culmination of more than 40 years of study, and 30 years of teaching this technology of transformation. People struggle with relationships. They struggle with money. They struggle with health. I’ve been coaching first as a minister, then for the last decade as a trainer outside the church world. But teaching, studying, and working in this laboratory called life. I’ve been both a student, and I’ve been a trainer in this laboratory, helping people unlock what it is they would love to have, be, do, give in their life. And helping them understand their capacity to do this. To use brave thinking and tap into the field of infinite possibility, potentiality, and work with a particular dream vision for their lives, so they can begin to see the pattern. Because once you see the pattern of how thoughts become things and how you can take what looks like very little and translate it into something much more – it’s as different as moving from simple addition to squaring in math. When you are working with simple addition, the only way to get to 25 is you must amass 25 ones. When you learn to multiply you find that you only need two 5’s to get to that same result. It takes way less effort and you have way more results. And when you move up the ladder of awareness a little bit further, you see you only need one 5. Brave Thinking will help people recognize that they have everything they need to live a life they love living, and a life that really has meaning and purpose and substance and significance. And I know how to do that. I know how to help them. BRAVE THINKING provides the code to a very different kind of thinking. Either one opens the doors to a potential that is something we are in love with, or something we fear. The purpose of this book is to provide very concrete direct clear simple understandings. Such as the world was flat or other kinds of commonplace thinking and help them recognize how much of that has governed their lives or the lives of people they know. It will show examples of people who dared to think beyond the boundaries of ordinary thinking and who dared to learn a new system of thinking. Rather than being condition based in a way of living life, they began to live a life that is vision-driven. And they came from a vision rather than living from circumstance. Most people think that when the circumstances change, ¡§then I can make a new decision, “then I can have something” “then I can be something,” “then I can do something.” What if it’s just the opposite? When you watch your television, and there are other common examples we’ll use, when you turn on a TV, the picture you are seeing comes from the frequency that your tuner is tuned to. And when you go to a movie theater, the dancing images on the screen are simply reflections of the light passing through the film that’s held before the projector. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Military Occupational Classification and Structure , 1994 |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, Policy and Global Affairs, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Sciences Community, 2009-07-29 Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die Sarah J. Robinson, 2021-05-11 A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Woman Behind the Smile Debby Montgomery Johnson, 2016-10-28 Debby Montgomery Johnson is a woman on a mission. In her book she shares her personal experience with a love that turned into betrayal and financial disaster and she removes the mask of shame and shows others how do to the same. Many of us have something, something we're hiding, something we're ashamed of, something that through no fault of our own or through our own making, something that we keep hidden and that, in turn, keeps us hidden, from each other and the world. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Crimes Committed by Terrorist Groups Mark S. Hamm, 2011 This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Examines terrorists¿ involvement in a variety of crimes ranging from motor vehicle violations, immigration fraud, and mfg. illegal firearms to counterfeiting, armed bank robbery, and smuggling weapons of mass destruction. There are 3 parts: (1) Compares the criminality of internat. jihad groups with domestic right-wing groups. (2) Six case studies of crimes includes trial transcripts, official reports, previous scholarship, and interviews with law enforce. officials and former terrorists are used to explore skills that made crimes possible; or events and lack of skill that the prevented crimes. Includes brief bio. of the terrorists along with descriptions of their org., strategies, and plots. (3) Analysis of the themes in closing arguments of the transcripts in Part 2. Illus. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Consensusland: A Cryptocurrency Utopia Mark Helfman, 2018-11-20 Entertaining and fascinating. The prose is crisp and engaging, the voice confident, and the plot skillfully imagined. -- Readers' Favorite Book Review In this blockchain version of Gulliver's Travels, a businessman gets the offer of a lifetime from the tiny, island country of Consensusland, but the catch is troubling: give up everything he knows about business and finance on a leap of faith in cryptocurrency and the power of blockchain. Will he take that leap? Possibly the first fiction book about blockchain, Consensusland infuses a strong narrative with dramatic realism to show readers how the world changes when it uses cryptocurrency, not cash. This book answers, in a very clever and engaging way, the question of what a society running on the blockchain could look like. But really, it goes deeper than that, intertwining allegory to capture a lot of the current debate amidst the naysayers that are resistant to change. -- Misha Yurchenko, author, Bullish on Bitcoin |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Livingood Daily Livingood, 2017-12-24 America takes 75% of the worlds medications and seven out of ten people die of chronic and preventable diseases. The health care system meant to remedy this problem is now the third leading cause of death itself. This exists because we often ignore our health or assume we are healthy until disease hits. Then once disease hits we manage the sickness with drugs and surgeries. That's not health care, that's sick care. This book is the guide to experience real health. If you manage sickness and disease you get sickness and disease, if you build health you get health. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Romance Scam Survivor Jan Marshall, 2018-02-13 Jan believed she was 'in love'. She accepted a proposal of marriage, and then sent money to a professional scammer. Jan is one of the rare few survivors of a romance scam who has the courage to speak up, and she does - loudly, eloquently and frequently telling the whole sordid story. You might think it can't happen to you, but can you be sure? |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: How To Become A Professional Con Artist Dennis M. Marlock, 2001-09-01 A fool and his money are soon parted, so the saying goes. And if the job is done right, the fool doesn't even realize it's happened until the wily con artist has moved on to the next victim or the next town. In this entertaining and eye-opening book, Dennis M. Marlock, a retired cop and chairman of the board for the international law enforcement organization Professionals Against Confidence Crime, takes the reader into the mind and greedy heart of the con man. You'll learn the mechanics behind famous swindles such as the pigeon drop, the Jamaican switch, bank-examiner schemes, three-card monte and even fortune-telling. You'll find out why a good scam artist rarely gets caught and, if he does, how he gets away with the lightest punishment or no punishment at all. If you've ever read a news story about a sucker getting taken and wondered how he could have fallen for that, you need to read this book before an honest-faced stranger offers you a deal too good to pass up. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Catch Me If You Can Frank W. Abagnale, Stan Redding, 2002-11-19 The uproarious, bestselling true story of the world's most sought-after con man, immortalized by Leonardo DiCaprio in DreamWorks' feature film of the same name, from the author of Scam Me If You Can. Frank W. Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams, and Robert Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters, and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious criminal career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and copiloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as the supervising resident of a hospital, practiced law without a license, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks, all before he was twenty-one. Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as The Skywayman, Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the lam—until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades, and ingenious escapes-including one from an airplane-make Catch Me If You Can an irresistible tale of deceit. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, 2011-05-01 The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report, published by the U.S. Government and the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission in early 2011, is the official government report on the United States financial collapse and the review of major financial institutions that bankrupted and failed, or would have without help from the government. The commission and the report were implemented after Congress passed an act in 2009 to review and prevent fraudulent activity. The report details, among other things, the periods before, during, and after the crisis, what led up to it, and analyses of subprime mortgage lending, credit expansion and banking policies, the collapse of companies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the federal bailouts of Lehman and AIG. It also discusses the aftermath of the fallout and our current state. This report should be of interest to anyone concerned about the financial situation in the U.S. and around the world.THE FINANCIAL CRISIS INQUIRY COMMISSION is an independent, bi-partisan, government-appointed panel of 10 people that was created to examine the causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis in the United States. It was established as part of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009. The commission consisted of private citizens with expertise in economics and finance, banking, housing, market regulation, and consumer protection. They examined and reported on the collapse of major financial institutions that failed or would have failed if not for exceptional assistance from the government.News Dissector DANNY SCHECHTER is a journalist, blogger and filmmaker. He has been reporting on economic crises since the 1980's when he was with ABC News. His film In Debt We Trust warned of the economic meltdown in 2006. He has since written three books on the subject including Plunder: Investigating Our Economic Calamity (Cosimo Books, 2008), and The Crime Of Our Time: Why Wall Street Is Not Too Big to Jail (Disinfo Books, 2011), a companion to his latest film Plunder The Crime Of Our Time. He can be reached online at www.newsdissector.com. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Black Velvet Lynn Raye Harris, 2022-09-27 She doesn’t believe in heroes anymore. He’ll prove her wrong. Mercenary Dax Freed would rather stride into the desert naked and covered in honey than pretend to be a reclusive romance novelist’s fake boyfriend, but nobody gave him the option. Roberta Sharpe writes about heroes for a living, but she already knows they don’t exist in real life. She doesn’t need a former Army Ranger who looks like he could be on her covers camping out in her guest room to prove the theory, but nobody gave her a choice. When someone breaks into her home and leaves a grisly calling card, her publisher insists she needs a bodyguard. Dax is everything she doesn’t want in her life again. Tall, dark, handsome, and certain of his appeal, it’s almost impossible to ignore the sizzling chemistry between them. It might not matter, though. The danger lurking in the shadows threatens to ruin more than a chance at love. If Dax is going to save Robbie, he’ll have to unleash the beast within… and prove that heroes don’t just exist in the pages of a novel. **Start reading the Black’s Bandits Series today and enjoy an action-packed, seriously romantic and steamy-good-fun military romantic suspense. Each book can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers or cheating and a guaranteed happily-ever-after ending! |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Public Enemy: Inside the Terrordome Tim Grierson, 2015-02-25 Public Enemy are an American hip hop group, formed in New York in 1982, known for their politically charged lyrics and criticism of the American media. This account focuses on the highs and lows of their career, provides an overview of their album releases, and examines what the future holds for them and hip hop as a whole. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Duped Abby Ellin, 2019-01-15 Abby Ellin was shocked to learn that her fiancéas leading a secret life. But as she soon discovered, the world is full of people who aren't what they seem. From Abby Ellin's first date with the Commander, she was caught up in a whirlwind. Within six months he'd proposed, and they'd moved in together. But soon, his exotic stories of international espionage began to unravel. Finally, it all became clear: he was lying about who he was. After leaving him and sharing her story, she was floored to find out that her experience was far from unique. People everywhere, many of them otherwise sharp-witted and self-aware, are being deceived by their loved ones every day. In Duped, Abby Ellin studies the art and science of lying, talks to people who've had their worlds upended by duplicitous partners, and writes with great openness about her own mistakes. These remarkable stories reveal how often we encounter people whose lives beneath the surface are more improbable than we ever imagined. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Army Food Program Department of the Army, 2012-07-24 This regulation encompasses garrison, field, and subsistence supply operations. Specifically, this regulation comprises Army Staff and major Army command responsibilities and includes responsibilities for the Installation Management Command and subordinate regions. It also establishes policy for the adoption of an à la carte dining facility and for watercraft to provide subsistence when underway or in dock. Additionally, the regulation identifies DOD 7000.14–R as the source of meal rates for reimbursement purposes; delegates the approval authority for catered meals and host nation meals from Headquarters, Department of the Army to the Army commands; and authorizes the use of the Government purchase card for subsistence purchases when in the best interest of the Government. This regulation allows prime vendors as the source of garrison supply and pricing and provides garrison menu standards in accordance with The Surgeon General's nutrition standards for feeding military personnel. Also, included is guidance for the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Recovery Program. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Ethical Algorithm Michael Kearns, Aaron Roth, 2020 Algorithms have made our lives more efficient and entertaining--but not without a significant cost. Can we design a better future, one in which societial gains brought about by technology are balanced with the rights of citizens? The Ethical Algorithm offers a set of principled solutions based on the emerging and exciting science of socially aware algorithm design. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft Raymond Buckland, 1986 This complete self-study course in modern Wicca is a treasured classic - an essential and trusted guide that belongs in every witch's library.---Back cover |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Bad Blood John Carreyrou, 2018-05-21 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The gripping story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos—one of the biggest corporate frauds in history—a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley, rigorously reported by the prize-winning journalist. With a new Afterword covering her trial and sentencing, bringing the story to a close. “Chilling ... Reads like a thriller ... Carreyrou tells [the Theranos story] virtually to perfection.” —The New York Times Book Review In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the next Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup “unicorn” promised to revolutionize the medical industry with its breakthrough device, which performed the whole range of laboratory tests from a single drop of blood. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes’s worth at an estimated $4.5 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn’t work. Erroneous results put patients in danger, leading to misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments. All the while, Holmes and her partner, Sunny Balwani, worked to silence anyone who voiced misgivings—from journalists to their own employees. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Social Engineering Christopher Hadnagy, 2010-11-29 The first book to reveal and dissect the technical aspect of many social engineering maneuvers From elicitation, pretexting, influence and manipulation all aspects of social engineering are picked apart, discussed and explained by using real world examples, personal experience and the science behind them to unraveled the mystery in social engineering. Kevin Mitnick—one of the most famous social engineers in the world—popularized the term “social engineering.” He explained that it is much easier to trick someone into revealing a password for a system than to exert the effort of hacking into the system. Mitnick claims that this social engineering tactic was the single-most effective method in his arsenal. This indispensable book examines a variety of maneuvers that are aimed at deceiving unsuspecting victims, while it also addresses ways to prevent social engineering threats. Examines social engineering, the science of influencing a target to perform a desired task or divulge information Arms you with invaluable information about the many methods of trickery that hackers use in order to gather information with the intent of executing identity theft, fraud, or gaining computer system access Reveals vital steps for preventing social engineering threats Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking does its part to prepare you against nefarious hackers—now you can do your part by putting to good use the critical information within its pages. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: American Sniper Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice, 2012-01-03 The #1 New York Times bestselling memoir of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, and the source for Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster, Academy-Award nominated movie. “An amazingly detailed account of fighting in Iraq--a humanizing, brave story that’s extremely readable.” — PATRICIA CORNWELL, New York Times Book Review Jaw-dropping...Undeniably riveting. —RICHARD ROEPER, Chicago Sun-Times From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the Iraq War, called him “The Legend”; meanwhile, the enemy feared him so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle, who was tragically killed in 2013, writes honestly about the pain of war—including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates—and in moving first-person passages throughout, his wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their family, as well as on Chris. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Faces of Fraud Martin T. Biegelman, 2013-02-07 The ultimate tool for understanding, investigating and preventing fraud Fraud is an evil with a life of its own that leaves a financial, repetitional, and emotional toll on its victims. While monumental scandals, such as Enron, WorldCom, and Madoff's Ponzi scheme make the front pages, fraud is a daily occurrence impacting companies and individuals alike. Faces of Fraud reveals must-know characteristics of fraudsters and the skills needed to outwit them. Recognized Fraud Fighting Expert Martin Biegelman draws from his 40 years of experience fighting fraud to profile not only the key traits fraudsters share, but also the qualities fraud examiners must possess to be successful. Each chapter contains stories from actual cases that the author investigated Profiles the must-know characteristics of fraudsters and the skills you'll need to outwit them Reveals the traits of accomplished fraud examiners Explores the best practices in fraud detection, investigation and prevention to cultivate in order to maximize success Written by fraud fighting expert Martin T. Biegelman Although fraud will never be completely eradicated, there is much that can be done to reduce the number and size of frauds that take place in any organization. Boiling down the key lessons the author has culled from his long career, Faces of Fraud entertains and informs with stories from real cases the author investigated over his long career, and imparts useful tips you can start using right away in the fraud examination field. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Cybercrime in Progress Thomas J Holt, Adam M Bossler, 2015-12-14 The emergence of the World Wide Web, smartphones, and computers has transformed the world and enabled individuals to engage in crimes in a multitude of new ways. Criminological scholarship on these issues has increased dramatically over the last decade, as have studies on ways to prevent and police these offenses. This book is one of the first texts to provide a comprehensive review of research regarding cybercrime, policing and enforcing these offenses, and the prevention of various offenses as global change and technology adoption increases the risk of victimization around the world. Drawing on a wide range of literature, Holt and Bossler offer an extensive synthesis of numerous contemporary topics such as theories used to account for cybercrime, policing in domestic and transnational contexts, cybercrime victimization and issues in cybercrime prevention. The findings provide a roadmap for future research in cybercrime, policing, and technology, and discuss key controversies in the existing research literature in a way that is otherwise absent from textbooks and general cybercrime readers. This book is an invaluable resource for academics, practitioners, and students interested in understanding the state of the art in social science research. It will be of particular interest to scholars and students interested in cybercrime, cyber-deviance, victimization, policing, criminological theory, and technology in general. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Take Charge , 2006 |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Quirkyalone Sasha Cagen, 2006-01-03 quirkyalone (kwur.kee.uh.lohn) n. adj. A person who enjoys being single (but is not opposed to being in a relationship) and generally prefers to be alone rather than date for the sake of being in a couple. With unique traits and an optimistic spirit; a sensibility that transcends relationship status. Also adj. Of, relating to, or embodying quirkyalones. See also: romantic, idealist, independent. Are you a quirkyalone? Do you know someone who is? Do you believe life can be prosperous and great with or without a mate? Do you value your friendships as much as your romantic relationships? Do gut instincts guide your most important decisions? Are you often among the first on the dance floor? Coupled or single, man or woman, social butterfly or shrinking violet, quirkyalones have walked among us, invisible until now. Through the coining of a new word, this tribe has been given a voice. Meet the quirkyalones. Read about: The quirkyalone nation: where we live, what we do Quirkytogethers (quirkyalones who have entered long–term relationships) Sex and the single quirkyalone Romantic obsession: the dark side of the quirkyalone's romantic personality Quirkyalones throughout history (profiles in courage) |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Talking to Strangers Malcolm Gladwell, 2019-09-10 Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Outliers, offers a powerful examination of our interactions with strangers and why they often go wrong—now with a new afterword by the author. A Best Book of the Year: The Financial Times, Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, and Detroit Free Press How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for a generation? Why did Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler? Why are campus sexual assaults on the rise? Do television sitcoms teach us something about the way we relate to one another that isn’t true? Talking to Strangers is a classically Gladwellian intellectual adventure, a challenging and controversial excursion through history, psychology, and scandals taken straight from the news. He revisits the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal at Penn State University, and the death of Sandra Bland—throwing our understanding of these and other stories into doubt. Something is very wrong, Gladwell argues, with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don’t know. And because we don’t know how to talk to strangers, we are inviting conflict and misunderstanding in ways that have a profound effect on our lives and our world. In his first book since his #1 bestseller David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell has written a gripping guidebook for troubled times. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Son of Good Fortune Lysley Tenorio, 2020-07-07 A Recommended Book From: USA Today * The Chicago Tribune * Book Riot * Refinery 29 * InStyle * The Minneapolis Star-Tribune * Publishers Weekly * Baltimore Outloud * Omnivoracious * Lambda Literary * Goodreads * Lit Hub * The Millions FINALIST FOR THE JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE WINNER OF THE NEW AMERICAN VOICES AWARD From award-winning author Lysley Tenorio, comes a big hearted debut novel following an undocumented Filipino son as he navigates his relationship with his mother, an uncertain future, and the place he calls home Excel spends his days trying to seem like an unremarkable American teenager. When he’s not working at The Pie Who Loved Me (a spy-themed pizza shop) or passing the time with his girlfriend Sab (occasionally in one of their town’s seventeen cemeteries), he carefully avoids the spotlight. But Excel knows that his family is far from normal. His mother, Maxima, was once a Filipina B-movie action star who now makes her living scamming men online. The old man they live with is not his grandfather, but Maxima’s lifelong martial arts trainer. And years ago, on Excel’s tenth birthday, Maxima revealed a secret that he must keep forever. “We are ‘TNT’—tago ng tago,” she told him, “hiding and hiding.” Excel is undocumented—and one accidental slip could uproot his entire life. Casting aside the paranoia and secrecy of his childhood, Excel takes a leap, joining Sab on a journey south to a ramshackle desert town called Hello City. Populated by drifters, old hippies, and washed-up techies—and existing outside the normal constructs of American society—Hello City offers Excel a chance to forge his own path for the first time. But after so many years of trying to be invisible, who does he want to become? And is it possible to put down roots in a country that has always considered you an outsider? Thrumming with energy and at once critical and hopeful, The Son of Good Fortune is a luminous story of a mother and son testing the strength of their bond to their country—and to each other. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Mercenaries and War National Defense University Press, Sean McFate, 2019-12-18 Mercenaries are more powerful than experts realize, a grave oversight. Those who assume they are cheap imitations of national armed forces invite disaster because for-profit warriors are a wholly different genus and species of fighter. Private military companies such as the Wagner Group are more like heavily armed multinational corporations than the Marine Corps. Their employees are recruited from different countries, and profitability is everything. Patriotism is unimportant, and sometimes a liability. Unsurprisingly, mercenaries do not fight conventionally, and traditional war strategies used against them may backfire. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Mercenary Commander Jerry Puren, Brian Pottinger, 1986 The Belgian Congo: A verdant area spanning the central regions of Africa - giant, somnambulant, beautiful and menacing. In 1960 the Belgian authorities, who had for years ruled the Congo with a stern hand, opted to grant independence to the country's hugely diverse population. On June 30, 1960, the Congo became independent. Within five days the country had fallen into four squabbling parts - the central government in the old capital of Leopoldville, a rebel movement in the eastern capital of Stanleyville, an independent republic of Kasai in the South West and an independent Katanga in the Southern regions with its capital at Elizabethville. United Nations troops were deployed in a 'peace keeping' role and after three wars succeeded in quashing the Katangese coup. But they had hardly finished their task when rebel 'sambas' in the Eastern Congo began sweeping across the Congo with the intention of capturing Leopoldville. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Journalism, fake news & disinformation Ireton, Cherilyn, Posetti, Julie, 2018-09-17 |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Hidden Brain Shankar Vedantam, 2010-08-31 The hidden brain is the voice in our ear when we make the most important decisions in our lives—but we’re never aware of it. The hidden brain decides whom we fall in love with and whom we hate. It tells us to vote for the white candidate and convict the dark-skinned defendant, to hire the thin woman but pay her less than the man doing the same job. It can direct us to safety when disaster strikes and move us to extraordinary acts of altruism. But it can also be manipulated to turn an ordinary person into a suicide terrorist or a group of bystanders into a mob. In a series of compulsively readable narratives, Shankar Vedantam journeys through the latest discoveries in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science to uncover the darkest corner of our minds and its decisive impact on the choices we make as individuals and as a society. Filled with fascinating characters, dramatic storytelling, and cutting-edge science, this is an engrossing exploration of the secrets our brains keep from us—and how they are revealed. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Alexander's Journey Goodwin Jeff W., 2017-07-25 A motivational and empowering story of a young boys battle with rare cancer and how his life was saved by traveling from the U.K. to the US with help from the thin blue line. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce? Wynn Free, David Wilcock, 2010-06-15 Discover the legacy of the most famous psychic of the 20th-century in this stirring exploration of psychic abilities, reincarnation, and other paranormal phenomena There are remarkable parallels between the work of David Wilcock and Edgar Cayce—the legendary clairvoyant, ‘sleeping prophet’, and ‘father of holistic medicine’. Here, author Wynn Free explores these parallels, building a convincing case that the two men shared the same source of prophetic information—and that Wilcock might indeed be Cayce’s reincarnation. Compiling some of Wilcock’s most inspirational and life-transforming prophetic guidance from his channeled Source, this book conveys profound insights into topics such as earth changes, secret cabals, soul evolution, death and reincarnation, ascension, crop circles, and the theory of evolution. Explaining how energetic increases occurring in the Sun and planets can have scientifically-measurable, far-reaching effects in a number of realms, The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce presents new evidence that this energy can transform DNA, potentially making ESP, telekinesis, levitation, and other paranormal activities as common as breathing and usher in the Golden Age promised by every major spiritual tradition in human history. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding not only of the life and work of both Wilcock and Cayce, but with a broader sense of the many forces—seen and unseen—at work in the universe today. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Slonim Woods 9 Daniel Barban Levin, 2021-09-07 An “extraordinary” (Nylon) firsthand account of the creation of a modern cult and the costs paid by its young victims: a group of college roommates “Intense . . . [a tale] of hard-won survival, and creating a life after the unimaginable.”—Salon The inspiration for the Hulu docuseries Stolen Youth, directed by Zach Heinzerling and co-produced by Daniel Barban Levin In September 2010, at the beginning of the academic year at Sarah Lawrence College, a sophomore named Talia Ray asked her roommates if her father could stay with them for a while. No one objected. Her father, Larry Ray, was just released from prison, having spent three years behind bars after a conviction during a bitter custody dispute. Larry Ray arrived at the dorm, a communal house called Slonim Woods 9, and stayed for the whole year. Over the course of innumerable counseling sessions and “family meetings,” the intense and forceful Ray convinced his daughter’s friends that he alone could help them “achieve clarity.” Eventually, Ray and the students moved into a small Manhattan apartment, beginning years of manipulation and abuse, as Ray tightened his control over his young charges through blackmail, extortion, and ritualized humiliation. After a decade of secrecy, Larry Ray was finally indicted on charges of extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering. Daniel Barban Levin was one of the original residents of Slonim Woods 9. Beginning the moment Daniel set foot on Sarah Lawrence’s idyllic campus and spanning the two years he spent in the grip of a megalomaniac, this brave, lyrical, and redemptive memoir reveals how a group of friends were led from college to a cult without the world even noticing. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Delete This at Your Peril Bob Servant, 2008-06-17 Genius! Highly entertaining and brilliantly deranged.—Maxim Spam is the plague of the electronic age, comprising 90% of all e-mails and illegally netting millions of dollars each year. Into this frustrating wave of directed marketing steps the brave figure of Bob Servant, a former window cleaner and cheeseburger magnate with a love of wine, women, and song—as well as a devious sense of fair play. In collusion with his editor Neil Forsyth, Bob gives spammers a taste of their own medicine. This wickedly funny and original book features the anarchic exchanges between Bob and the hapless spam merchants who unwittingly flood his inbox. As they offer him African fortunes, Russian brides, and get-rich-quick scams, he turns the tables by offering them some outlandish schemes of his own. Upping the ante with the skill of a seasoned pro, Bob demands legal asylum, shoulders to cry on, and gold lions that speak—and almost gets his way. The result is page after page of wacky and hilarious e-mail exchanges—and a cathartic release for anyone whose inbox has been deluged with unwanted e-mail. 22 b/w photographs. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: The Psychic Mafia M. Lamar Keene, 1997 In this powerful and brutally honest book, Keene exposes the secrets of the séance room, including ghostly apparitions, floating trumpets, 'spirit sex, ' and other tricks used by mediums to exploit believers.--Cover. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: Gray Work Jamie Smith, 2015-04-07 The first ever, first-person story of America's private, paramilitary contractors at work around the world-from a man who performed these missions himself and has decades of stories to tell. This is a fascinating tale-and potentially the first-to describe the work of American contractors, men who run highly dangerous missions deep inside foreign countries on the brink of war. It will lift the veil and detail the ultimate danger and risk of paramilitary operations (both officially government-sanctioned and not) and show us in very intimate terms exactly what private soldiers do when the government can't act or take public responsibility. GRAY WORK combines covert military intelligence with boots-on-the-ground realism, following Jamie Smith through his CIA training and work as a spy in the State Department, to his co-founding of Blackwater following 9/11, to his decision to leave that company. As the founder and director of Blackwater Security, Smith's initial vision has undeniably shaped and transformed a decade of war. He argues that this gray area-and its warriors who occupy the controversial space between public and private-has become an indispensable element of the modern battlefield. |
| what questions to ask a military scammer: 9/11 Thierry Meyssan, 2002 This book is based exclusively on documents published by the White House and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as statements by American civilian and military leaders to the international press. |
