By LAJU ARENYEKA

It’s 2014! No doubt, you’ve made plans to become a better person, help the needy and see the world. It doesn’t take a prophet with a rod to figure that out! But it does take a scammer to make you think that your dreams might come true, and then leave you high and dry. That’s why here at Glamtech, we want to let you know some more tricks scammers have up their sleeves for 2014.

The Syria Stunt

If you want to send aid for humanitarian purposes, check and double check. Truth be told, help is much needed in Syria as a result of the political crisis in the area. But for every real venture, there is a counterfeit. And the email below confirms.

Donate to the emergency appeal for Syria

From: New Zealand Red Cross [mailto:help @ redcross org nz]

As humanitarian needs in Syria reach unprecedented levels, your donation will help ensure vital supplies and medical aid get to those who need it most and will help protect the lives of those delivering these essential services.

DONATE NOW -its people like you that make our work possible – DONATE NOW

Last year we sent 37 aid workers overseas, to over 20 countries, supporting 48 missions.

We help communities affected by emergencies and conflicts all over the world. As we often say, disasters don’t discriminate – neither do we.

New Zealand Red Cross.

NOTE: Please do not fall for this, visit the Red Cross’ official web page to find legitimate ways to help people in need.

The FIFA-Brazil scam

Online fraudsters can be mean. Who would want to miss out on a trip to Brazil to watch the FIFA World Cup live in 2014?. But no one would like to be stripped off  his savings simply because of a FIFA-Brazil Scam. So here’s how to recognize one if you see it.

“Congratulations! This is to inform you that your Email Address emerged as a winner of an amount of Five Hundred Thousand British pounds (£500,000.00) which is equivalent to Eight Hundred & Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($810,000.00) in the FIFA BRAZIL 2014 SOCCER WORLD CUP PROMOTION Draw held in Johannesburg, South Africa (THE PAST SUCCESSFUL HOST OF THIS FIFA EVENT) through an Open Computer Ballot JAVA System.

All participants email ID was automatically entered in the draw as Microsoft collected all valid and active email users GLOBALLY for this promotion.

Your email ID attached to Reference Number: WCD80010011 was luckily drawn to win you the prize in the Category “A”. Therefore a pin number has been issued for you to claim your prize. PIN CODE 00357721.

stated below re your winning identification numbers to facilitate your payment: Batch number: BR/14/FIFAJULY43658.