Background:
I tried to leave to Canada for the same reasons everyone tries to leave India, for a better life. I had a small startup company in India which was running well enough for a startup which shutdown when the pandemic hit and one of my partners committed suicide. It, along with a lot of other obvious factors made me want to leave India. I got into a college in Canada with a total fee of 22L for a diploma course and left at the end of October. One thing no one told me about is the housing crisis here and the insane living expenses.
These immigration agencies paint a rosy picture of this life in Canada full of opportunities and wonders where I get to work part-time and pay off my living expenses and student loans while living the best life possible. That can't be further from the truth. My father is a small railway clerk. He gets decent money enough to get me a student loan but that is it. We do not know anyone here in Canada, we have no friends or family here. The only people I know now is the people I met along the way. The college wasn't offering any accommodations and whatever it had was full. I tried looking for rooms and everyone's response here was basically that they'll talk when I'm in Canada. So I booked an Airbnb in Canada for 3 days, hoping to find a room during my stay there and left with a total of 400CAD (24,000rupees) in my hdfc forex card.
Indians in Canada:
It soon became clear the kind of people who try to come here mostly consist of wealthy Indians who can more than afford a good lifestyle here. Their parents are wealthy enough to fund them well enough and they also most likely have a family member living here. The second kind are the Indians who have some family member here and can live with them for a while until they can figure things out. People like me who have nothing and no one here are insanely rare and stupid to do something like this without proper financial backing.
Indians here are either the most kindest people you will find or they try to scam you. This one Punjabi guy sold me a 1$ travel adapter for 11$ seeing that I badly needed one while this other Punjabi guy gave me an uber ride of 30$ for free seeing how I was new to the city, both on the first day. Only Indians will scam you and only Indians will be as kind to you as one can be. Seems like there's no in-between.
Worst day of my life:
By the third day in Canada, when my Airbnb stay had ended, I had talked to this old lady about renting a room in her place for 1200$ initial deposit and this other guy for renting this other place for the same price. The plan was to go to the bank account and redeem my GIC money of 10,000$, roughly 6Lakh rupees. (which is the initial deposit I have to provide to Canada before I can get the visa), pay the rent and start living there. Things already seemed shaky but I had gone to a nearby bank the day before and they said I needed to have an appointment for that. This day, I had an appointment and I left as early as I can in the day with my total 70kgs of luggage (everything I got from India) to travel 90kms in bus to go to the bank, redeem the money and then take the room. If things go wrong, at least I'd have the money to fall back onto. My father had also sent me 1lakh just incase something goes wrong.
The bus did not stop where it was supposed to. The bus driver drove way past the bus stop when I was clearly asking him to stop and stopped somewhere far away in the next bus stop. It was a minor setback perhaps so I tried to take a bus back again to that stop, waited another half an hour before the bus came and he did the same thing again. He drove back again all over and stopped 2 stops over. Little did I know I had to pull a thin lever tied to either side and unless I do that, he will not stop no matter how much I ask him to. I was very far in another bus stop again. By then, I had dragged my luggage across at least 1km, changed 5 busses and hadn't eaten the whole day. The only ray of hope was to reach the bank somehow and claim the money.
I finally took another bus and somehow reached the bank. The lady, who was also indian, greeted me and then told me she cannot do the procedure to claim my money since it was 3:30 and the bank closes at 4pm. I hadn't gotten the money that my father sent me more than 2 days ago. I had a total of 100$ in my forex card. Apparently the bus service stops early since it was a Saturday, Banks are closed on Sundays, I was way outside the main city and so there aren't many taxi services, the cheapest airbnb costed me 70$ per night. If I book an Airbnb, I wouldn't have money for the uber ride. Even if I did take a bus there, how would I be able to afford the stay for Sunday ?
...
For the first time in my life I couldn't think anymore. I sat at the corner of the bank staring at my dying phone battery wondering what I was doing all the way here on the other side of the planet having left behind everyone who loves me and cares for me. I had everything back home. All my friends and family who could never imagine and can never know that I who would always take them around in my car would be so close to being homeless. I couldn't let them know either because I didn't want them to worry about me.
The bank lady approached me at closing time and asked me if everything is okay. Idk what happened but I couldn't help tearing up. I didn't look at her but I told her I don't know. She asked me if there's someone I can call who can pick me up and I said no. She then asked me if there is somewhere she can drop me and I said no. She asked me to try to find someone I can call. I scurried through my phone contacts to see if there is someone I can call and I found this number of this lady I met the previous day at a government office who told me to call her if I ever got into trouble. I called her up and she gave me another number. I called him up and he didn't answer but he gave me an address. And since I had some address and nothing more to lose, I told the bank lady that I have an address and she told me she will drop me there.
I had no clue where I was going since the text message only contained a name and an address. She drove me and left me on the sidewalk. I went up to the door and knocked. This Indian guy opens the door and asks me what I want. I tell him the name and then he immediately asks me to come in, goes out and carries my luggage inside. There were 5 guys sitting and watching the TV. I start explaining my situation and they ask me to sit down and relax first. This other guy was making dosas and he got me a couple in a plate. Once I had eaten, I told them what had happened and they told me not to worry since I found them and told me how they can crash in their sofa as long as I want to. They were insanely chill. We sat down and watched a movie and right that evening, they took me around in their car and found a room for me that I can rent. And then they sat me down and explained me everything I needed to know. I stayed there for another 2 days until I claimed my money and moved to the new place.
I couldn't be more thankful and its amazing how its always Indians who are truly there for me even though I have never met them ever before. Later I found out that my parents sensed that something was horribly wrong even though I had told them nothing and they hadn't been able to sleep for days until I showed them the room I was going to stay in, especially my father who knew my financial situation and got sick mentally torturing himself for not being able to provide me a better financial support.

Rent situation:
The rent situation is horrible since Canada has the most inflated and expensive housing market on the planet. I am currently paying 500$ (30,000rupees all inclusive) a month for living in a hall in the basement of a house. There are 2 other guys living with me who has their own separate bedrooms since they pay more and the 3 of us have a common bathroom and a common bedroom. All of this in the basement of a house. It may sound pricey but that is kind of the going rate after they got inflated due to the pandemic. I might find a better deal elsewhere but they all get sold out faster than MI flash sale when those were big. But at least I get my little privacy when the other guys don't come this side to use the kitchen that is directly Infront of my hall.
Most Indian students here live in a "sharing basis" where they share a bedroom between 2 people that will cost each of them anywhere from 380$ - 500$ (22,000 - 30,000 rupees) a month. And these rooms are most likely in basements along with other such rooms. So in a basement there are often 2-6 students.
I heard of this one rent offer where at the Ground floor there were 8 guys living, on the 1st floor there was 10 guys living and at the basement of a house there were 8 GIRLS living. Sounds crazy but it has become a normal for Indians here. 8 guys/girls in one floor means 4 bedrooms in one floor sharing a common kitchen, hall and a bathroom. It costs 350$ (20,500 rupees) for each person. It got filled in less than a day.

Transport:
A 10km travel will take 9 minutes in a car, 30 minutes in a bicycle and 2 hours in a bus. It is hard to live without a car here. The country is designed for cars. And the busses, you pay about 4$(240rupees) depending on where you are and that will give you a pass that you can use to roam for about 2 hours or less wherever the bus company operates. ~~Yes that's right, there is no government run transport here.~~ This country is a late stage capitalist utopia.
If you want to buy a car, you will get an amazing sedan for cheap. But the monthly insurance can be anywhere from 180$ - 300$ (10,500 - 17500 rupees) a month. The maintenance costs are expensive. Every winter you will have to swap regular tires for winter tires which are expensive.
Food:
An egg costs 25 rupees each, cilantro costs 60rupees, tomato costs 70 rupees each and milk costs 105 rupees per liter. Food is very expensive. And so is junk food. This may look manageable but they really add up when you want a proper diet.
Mobile Internet:
One thing Indians take for granted is their mobile internet / jio. Mobile plans in Canada cost 50$ (3000rupees) per month for 8GB of data which is standard here and mobile plans aren't universal, they change for each individual costumer. If you can bargain good and find good places (with no Indians scamming you like the Indian who scammed me with my plan), you may find 40$(2400rupees) for 12GB per month which sounds bs compared to the 2GB per day plan you get in jio for 600 rupees per month in india.

This will all be perfectly manageable since we will be working part-time don't we ?
Part-time Job situation:
Well in theory, yes. You can manage all expenses if you work part-time. But it is complicated.
Students get a 20 hour per week work permit. And they all pay minimum wage which is 14.35$/hour (829 rupees/hour) which seems to be the only thing students who come here are looking at. Indian university degree or experience will not be respected in Canada. They don't care who you were in India. They only offer minimum wage, take it or leave it. But even that for 20 hours a week should give around 1000$ (60,000rs) per month minus the travel expenses right ? Well that is if you can find a job that will give you full 20 hours. I got a job that is only paying me 12 hours a week which adds only up to 600$ (36,000rs) a month of which 500$ is going for rent.
The jobs that give full 20 hours often involve manual labor like lifting weights of up to 20kgs frequently. It is basically the lowest job there can be in this country. They may even pay a little more that minimum wage but they are often in far off locations that consume money in transport. Indians can totally do that but that still is not enough since the food+rent will take up all the money. And unexpected expenses keep pouring in unannounced.
So too many Indians work for "cash jobs" after the finish their main job which is basically illegal work that is paid in cash so the government cannot track it, which is often dangerous as you can guess and a some even get scammed. But this has become the normal. Main job + Cash job is what one needs to survive and manage expenses and have some savings too.
So basically whatever time the college takes + 20 hours of cash job + 20 hours of main job and the rest of the time you're too tired to do anything else.

Canadians:
Canadians are extremely polite. They are very very nice people in general but they also seem paranoid of other people. Indians don't really mix with the Canadians very easily. They stay separate and in their own circles and I understand why.
Depression:
Students here can't and won't tell the struggles they face here to their parents or even their friends back home. The pictures of them posing in these pristine streets and behind expensive cars does not show a true picture of what's happening here to them. Living in basements and working factory or minimum wage jobs after living a good life in India and away from loved ones is not going to be good for anyone's mental health. Indian students "get used to" whatever happens here.

And then what after getting a PR ?
Work insanely hard, hustle, finish college, get a job after college, go head over heels to get a PR and then what ?
I live very far away from the city and in this tiny town where I had a lunch with a kind Canadian family of 5 who was paying a rent of 2400$ (1.4Lakh) per month for a small basic decent house. And they tell me how they are struggling to make ends meet. And the houses here start at 5 crore rupees all the way out here in this tiny town and you can guess the city prices. Unless one gets a VERY GOOD job here or has rich parents, buying a house here seems impossible. Apartments don't really cost that much less. In contrast, the 200sq.yard duplex house I lived in the city back home, had a rent of 10,000 rupees (170$) per month. The rent I'm paying here will get me a luxury apartment in the center of the city back home.
I personally cannot imagine living in a country where I will need both mine and my spouse's income combined just to live a decent life and still always be at the risk of going homeless any day. The land prices at the outskirts of my city was costing 24lakhs for 200sq.yards right before I left. I cannot imagine life where in a city where basic commodities can be a struggle.
In India the wages may be low. But the if half your income is goes for accommodation, you'd be able to buy the house instead if renting it. My father pays 1/6th of his income for accommodation. And an average salary of 30,000rs per month like mine paying 8000rs for a full house rent, still left about half my salary for savings which could do a lot in Indian economy.

Conclusion:
The cars may not be as cheap, the roads may not be as pristine (although that's slowly changing), the house may not be made of wood, the trees may not come in red color, the street selfies may not help parents brag and the roadside people may not be as polite. But I will have my self respect and mental health.
Being in India is not easy but it's worse out here unless you're loaded, you have an amazing job or your dad's a politician or something. I think about my family a lot and friends that I left behind to pursue what exactly? The pandemic pushed me and a lot of others to despair and we thought coming here would solve something. Canada saw a record intake of Indians this year and I imagine lots of them were pushed to despair by the pandemic like I was.
India is an amazing country despite all its negative political bs. My asthma inhaler costs 140 rupees in India, 1800 rupees in Canada and 17000 rupees in US apparently. India heavily subsidizes medicines that I have always taken for granted like most other Indians. Food is very cheap and road side food is ultra cheap while being delicious. People may not be as polite but they are real. Internet is surprisingly the cheapest on the planet. Literally everything is cheap and not just that, one gets to live a dignified life with loved ones.

Post Note:
This post does not apply to anyone who is rich or has a good job. Most Indians aren't very rich. Middle class Indians often seem to look at the rich Indians here and come here searching for that life. A lot of times, it's the taxes paid by the hard earning Indian public that got them that Lamborghini.

Edit 1:

Of course I wasn't prepared for this. Anyone with two braincells can see that. I don't want to be reminded of how unprepared I was. And I came to Canada with only 400$ because that's all my father could afford to give me at that time. We are poor. It was either go now or lose the 10lakh fee I paid. It's really hard to be prepared when poor.
The nuances and the intricate details are hard to research online. Like how was I supposed to know I have to pull that thin rope placed in the corner of the bus off of google ? How does one search for these things ?
I never said I'm smart, I said I was desperate. Desperation makes people make stupid decisions. When life seems to be falling apart rapidly, the first instinct is to try to fix it anyhow. Mistakes have been made.
I am well aware of the costs way before coming here. I'm trying to inform others. Also it's one thing to know the costs beforehand and another to actually buy groceries at that cost.

Ouch hedgie… really taking all you got to stay in another day huh?

market open?

A beginner's guide on how to select your investments [Part 1]

Finance & investing is not properly taught in schools and universities. It's unfortunate because finance is an essential part of our lives. No matter where we live or what career we have, knowing the basics of finance will help us manage our money better. It will ensure that we utilise our hard-earned money in the best way possible.
Because of the internet, all the information in the world is at our fingertips. However, for someone who is starting out with finance & investing, it can be overwhelming. There's just too much information. The person doesn't know where to start & how to start. Hopefully, this post will be a useful guide for new investors who are looking to get started with their investment journey.

What is investing ?

Investing is the process of making our money work for us. Whether we have a job or run a business, we work to make money when we're young. However, merely earning enough money is not enough. Instead of keeping the money idle, we put the money to work so that it makes more money for us.
To make money work for us, we buy (appreciating) assets. An asset is something of value which is be more valuable in the future. The price of the asset is expected to increase in the future because it provides some economic value. Investing in the process of buying such assets & holding onto them so that our money grows.

Why should we invest ?

Investing is not a necessity in life. Some people can go through their lives without investing. But, for the majority of people, investing is required because of the following reasons :

1) To build wealth

In our youth, we work to make money. (ie) We exchange our time for money. But, there's only so much time we have. So, we can only make a limited amount of money if we exchange time for money. To accumulate more money, we have to invest. Essentially, investing helps us get more money so that we can buy time (to do the things we love).
Furthermore, we will eventually get old & we won't be able to work. But, we will still need money to spend. Investing allows us to create enough wealth so that we will be financially independent during our older age.
When we're afraid to invest, wealth remains a dream.

2) To crush inflation

Simply put, inflation is the progressive increase in the price of goods & services. (ie) As time goes on, the cost of living goes up. In other words, the value of our money goes down. Why & how inflation happens is a complex topic.
Because of inflation, we can't let our money be idle. If we buy something with 'X' amount of money today, we will need 'more than X' amount of money to buy it in a few years. A healthy level of inflation is normal in an economy, since inflation promotes economic activity.
However, inflation means that we'll lose the purchasing power of our money if we let it be idle. So, we have to invest (most of) our money so that it grows. Otherwise, inflation will crush us.

Where should we invest ?

The basic asset classes available for an investor are Stocks, Bonds, Real estate & Commodities. These asset classes are the building blocks of other complex investment options. Before we learn more about the different ways to invest one's money, this document explains the list of things an investor should handle before they begin their investment journey.

Stocks

A stock represents the ownership of a small chunk of a company. Buying the stock allows us to participate in the future growth of the company, which lets us grow our wealth. This document explains some basic terminologies about the stock market.
Here are some basic points about stocks :

Stocks are VOLATILE : During every trading day, millions of investors & traders transact in the stock market. Since everyone is buying & selling with different intentions, the price of the stock tends to change every minute. No one can predict whether a stock is gonna go down or up. If a 10% drop in stock price makes you want to sell, don't buy stocks.
Stocks don't provide 'assured returns' : Because the stock price is influenced by many factors, we can't expect a stock to generate a consistent return every month/year. If someone is saying that they can generate a specific rate of return from stocks, they're trying to scam you.
Market crashes & corrections are common : It's a guarantee that the market will crash in the future. But, no one knows when it will happen. No one can escape it. The Indian stock market has experienced a correction almost every year.. Same with S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Instead of worrying about crashes & corrections, we should have a proper strategy to handle them. Whether a crash happens or not, we should invest consistently.
All-time-highs are common : Some investors have an irrational fear of investing money when the market (or a particular stock) is at an all-time-high. Any quality market/stock will see several ATHs.. It's a mistake to stop investing at an ATH. Don't randomly wait for a 'dip’.
The odds are against you : Twitteratis will make it seem as if stock investing is as simple as buying some stocks, letting it grow & giving it to our children as inheritance.. But, reality is much different. Among the thousands of stocks in the stock market, only a small percent of stocks are responsible for the returns of the entire market. Finding such stocks is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Statistically, you’re more likely to pick a loser than a winner., since many stocks lose money over the course of their lifetime. Stock investing is hard. Even if we select a winning stock, the journey will be hard.
Avoid investing based on 'hot stock tips': The cardinal rule in stock investing is "Know what you own & why you own it". Buying stocks based on tips violates this rule. Remember, the tip provider doesn't care about you. They have no incentive to help you make money. After buying, you won't know what to do. You'd be indecisive whether the stock price goes down, or whether it goes up.
Avoid trading : Trading is injurious to wealth.. Trading won't produce income. Neither does Algo Trading and Forex trading. The only people who get rich because of trading are stock brokerages. When you frantically trade in the hopes of becoming rich, brokerages become rich off of you. Investing builds wealth, while trading destroys wealth.
It helps to invest for the long-term : In the short-term, stock market is affected by sentiments & emotions about the economy. That's why the stock price of good companies go down during a market crash/correction. Instead of focusing on short-term price fluctuation, we should focus on buying quality stocks & holding them for several years (or decades).
There are no 'best' stocks : During the 1960s, a group of stocks known as Nifty Fifty were advertised as fundamentally-solid companies that an investor can buy & hold for long periods of time. Fast forward a decade, those stocks have failed to live upto expectations. Some of them don't even exist anymore. The remaining stocks are shells of their former selves. Any company can go irrelevant, and the stock price can stagnate for years/decades. If we had bought some of the bluechip stocks in 2000, the performance would have been terrible till 2021. 'Buy & Forget' does not work. Coffee can investing doesn't work. Buying the 'top' stocks is not a winning strategy either. Several big companies have failed.

This document describes the different type of stocks & how to analyse them.

Bonds

Bonds are a way for investors to lend their money to someone & get a fixed rate of return (with minimal risk). Broadly, bonds are divided into two categories - Govt bonds and Corporate bonds. Bonds issued by the government are considered risk free, while bonds issued by corporations tend to have different levels of risk. RBI's website has an in-depth explanation on the intricacies of bonds.
Two metrics are important for any bond investor - The Repo Interest Rate and The 10-year Govt bond yield. These two interest rates are considered as the benchmark for the 'risk-free rate of return' for short-term and long-term bonds respectively. For retail investors to easily buy govt bonds, RBI is launching a portal. Websites like GoldenPI and TheFixedIncome seems to facilitate the purchase of bonds.
Here are some basic points about bonds :

Bonds are VOLATILE: Like stocks, most bonds are traded on stock exchanges. The price of bonds change, depending on market conditions. This won't affect us if we want to hold the bond till maturity. But, if we want to sell the bond before maturity, we might have to sell it at a loss. We might not be able to sell the bond at all, if there are no buyers.
Higher interest rate it is, the riskier the bond is : Each bond issuer has a credit rating, which determines the issuer's ability to pay back the money. If the issuer has good credit rating, many investors will be eager to lend money to them. So, such an issuer can issue bonds with low interest rates. Similarly, if an issuer has bad credit ratings, investors will avoid the issuer (since bond investors don't want to lose money). So, the issuer has to issue bonds at a higher interest rate to compensate for the extra risk that the investor takes. If someone is offering a bond with interest rate that is much higher than the risk-free rate of return, then the bonds are very risky.
Higher the bond tenure is, the riskier the bond is : Long-term bonds usually have higher interest rates than short-term bonds. Long-term bonds have to offer higher rates because the investor is locking-up their money in such a bond for a longer time period. Long-term bonds are also vulnerable to inflation, since the coupon rate is fixed while inflation increases throughout the years.
Most investors don't need to invest in bonds (directly) : Although bonds are a great way for investors to get good returns with minimal risk, it's not necessary for most investors to buy bonds. Investors have to pay tax on the coupon payments, so it erodes away some of the returns. There are several ways to efficiently invest in bonds indirectly (which we'll see later). The only reason for investors to buy bonds directly is if they need regular income.

Remember, fixed-income is not the asset class to chase after returns. If someone is giving 'high returns', there's obviously high risk. It's prudent to avoid fancy convoluted products like KredX or GrowFix/WintWealth or GripInvest or P2P lending.

Real Estate

Humans have been investing in real estate since time immemorial. Since land & buildings are tangible assets, it gives a sense of security to hold such assets. The investor buys land or a building (residential property or a commercial property), with the intention that it will appreciate in price. Meanwhile, the property can rent out to generate passive income.
Real estate has been the best asset to create generational wealth. Families hold onto land & houses that have been passed down through multiple generations. In theory, real estate seems like the perfect investment. After all, there’s only a limited quantity of land available. There’ll always be demand for land & houses. However, there are some practical difficulties in real estate investment, and thus real estate is not suitable for everyone. And, as more & more investment options become available, we can build an investment portfolio without any real estate.
The biggest benefit of real estate investing is that it’s (somewhat) tough to sell. Unlike digitised financial assets, real estate can’t be sold with the click of a button. Selling real estate is an arduous process. So, this psychological barrier allows people to hold onto real estate for lengthy periods of time. Before selling the property, the investor will have enough time to think long & hard about whether they actually want to sell or not. Unlike a stock, a real estate property’s real-time price is not tracked anywhere. Stock investors might panic-sell their stocks if they see that the price is going down constantly. Such a problem doesn’t exist in real estate. It’s an opaque market, and no one knows the real price of the property.
The other benefit is that we can invest in real estate with leverage (ie) We can take out a loan to invest in a real estate property. If we only have X amount of money, we can buy properties that are worth 4X or 5X. Real estate is unique in the sense that we use the asset as a collateral for the loan. (ie) We are given a loan to buy the property, meanwhile the property itself is the collateral. Investing in such a manner is not possible in other asset classes. Investing with leverage enhances the overall returns we get from the investment.
The biggest disadvantage is that it’s tough to sell. If we buy real estate as an investment, we intend to sell it at some point in the future. If we’re unable to find buyers, we’ll be screwed. If we can’t find someone to buy it at a fair value, we might be forced to sell it at a huge discount (if we are in a hurry to sell it). The house/apartment would become old over time. Over time, newer homes will be built, and no one might be eager to buy an old home from us.
Buying the property has its own set of challenges. We'll have to do plenty of research before buying, and the process of buying involves a lot of overhead costs and maintenance costs.
The property could get land-grabbed and illegally occupied. There are plenty of possibilities for fraud to happen in real estate. It can happen to anyone, regardless of the property's location. If we have the type of jobs that can take us anywhere in the country/world, real estate may not be a suitable investment for us.
There is a way to invest in Real Estate without any of these hassles - REITs and InVits. Real Estate Investment Trusts are companies that own, operate & manage real estate assets (residential & commercial) that produce income. Similarly, Infrastructure Investment Trusts are companies that own & operate infrastructure projects. These companies manage a large collection of real estate assets, so there's automatic diversification. REITs and InvITs are listed on the stock exchange, so an investor can easily buy a small chunk of a diversified portfolio of real estate assets.
Plenty of REITs are listed on the US stock market, with Realty Income being one of the oldest REITs with a good track record. In the Indian stock market, there are three REITs (as of 2021) - Embassy Office Parks REIT, Mindspace Business Parks REIT, Brookfield India REIT. There are a handful of InVits.
While these trusts collect income from the real estate assets, they are mandated to payout a specific portion of the money to investors. So, REITs and InvITs can provide a source of passive income.

Commodities

Commodities are fungible economic goods that are often consumed by individuals or used as raw materials for other economic processes. The price of commodities change drastically because of supply & demand, so commodities are primarily used for trading instead of investing (for long-term). Commodities are non-productive assets (ie) Unlike stocks or bonds or real estate, commodities don't generate any money for their owners.
From an investotrader standpoint, the most common types of commodities available are : 1) Agricultural commodities like rubber, lumber, coffee, cotton 2) Energy commodities like crude oil, natural gas 3) Base metals like copper, aluminium, zinc 4) Precious metal like gold, silver.
Among the entire list of commodities, precious metals is a category that appeals the most to investors. By definition, precious metals are rarer to find. So, the price is always expected to go up in the future. Gold is the most investable precious metal in the world. For 5,000 years, gold's combination of lustre, malleability, density and scarcity has captivated humankind like no other metal. Gold has been used as 'money' by several civilisations. Historically, gold prices have risen as time goes on, especially during times of economic turmoil. Although gold is often touted as a 'hedge against inflation', the data suggests otherwise.
Here are the ways to invest in gold :

Physical Gold : An investor buys physical gold coins and gold bullions and stores it safely. This is the most straightforward way of owning gold. The major disadvantage is that keeping the gold in a secure place can be costly. We have to spend money on lockers/safes.
Digital Gold : With the advent of digitalisation, it is possible for investors to buy Gold in a digital format. Several services like Bullion India and MMTC allow investors to buy gold digitally. It's advantageous since the investor doesn't have to worry about storage costs. However, there are many disadvantages. An investor has to pay 3% GST while buying. Digital Gold can't be held forever. After a certain period, the investor has to take delivery of the gold or sell it. The Digital Gold market is not properly regulated. Avoid Digital Gold.
Sovereign Gold Bonds : SGBs are issued by the Government of India as an alternative way to invest in Gold. RBI's website has a detailed explanation on the specifics of SGB. These bonds are not backed by physical gold, and they're issued to reduce the demand for importing physical gold. Although it is a 'bond', SGB is not a fixed-income investment. It is a gold investment, and an investor can lose money if the gold price goes down. SGB is the most convenient way to invest in gold, since there are no extra charges.

There is one more way to invest in Gold, but we'll see it later. For most investors, gold (or commodities, in general) may not be needed in their portfolio.

Fixed Deposits

Because of its simplicity, fixed deposit is one of the most popular investment options. FDs are basically a simplified version of a bond - We give money to a company for a certain amount of time & the company pays a fixed rate of interest on the money. When the time period is over, they give us back the money. An FD that pays interest regularly is called a Non-Cumulative FD. Some FDs allow the interest to be reinvested, so that all of the interest is paid to use at the end of the time period. Such an FD is called a Cumulative FD.
In a Recurring deposit, we invest our money on regular intervals instead of doing a one-time investment.
Broadly, there are three types of Fixed Deposits :

Bank FDs : Since we normally keep our money in a bank account, it's convenient to keep the money in FDs with the same bank. Creating FDs (and breaking FDs) can be instantly done through Netbanking portals. An added benefit of bank FDs is that our money (of upto 5 lakhs) is insured by DICGC. However, DICGC shouldn't be a reason to put money in risky banks. It can take a long time to get back the money, if the bank shuts down. Unless you know how to analyse banks, it's optimal to keep the money in systemically-important big banks like HDFC, ICICI, SBI. Chasing after returns in Cooperative banks or Small finance banks can be troublesome.
Corporate FDs : These FDs are created in non-banking institutions. Corporate FDs have appeal because they tend to have a slightly higher interest rate than bank FDs. However, these deposits are not guaranteed by DICGC. So, if the company goes bankrupt, the money will be in peril. It has happened several times in the past. Putting our money in Corporate FDs, in the thirst for high returns, could cause unending despair.
Post Office FDs : This is the safest form of FDs. All the money kept in Post Office FDs is completely backed by the government. So, there's no fear of losing money. Post Office's Netbanking facilities are improving, so it's getting easier to keep our money at the post office.

Mutual funds

Mutual funds are investment vehicles that collects money from several investors & invest it for their mutual benefit. It's one of the best ways for retail investors to invest their money, since the investor don't need to do a lot of research while investing in mutual funds. Mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers who'd invest the money in a collection of securities, depending on the fund's mandate. Check out this document which explains the basic terminologies used in the world of mutual funds. This table shows the different categories of mutual funds.
Here are some basic points about mutual funds :

They don’t offer a fixed rate of return - Mutual funds invest in securities that are market-linked, so the returns vary depending on the market conditions. There is no mutual fund that can offer a specific return every year. Mutual funds are NOT an 'alternative to Fixed Deposits'. Don't be misled by such claims. Questions like “What fund can I invest in to get 10-15% returns for the next 15 years ?” are moot, since no one can predict whether a fund can give a specific rate of return.
There is no ‘principal’ and ‘interest’ - When we invest our money in a mutual fund, we buy 'units' of that fund. A unit is a small chunk of the portfolio. When those assets appreciate in value, the price of our units increase (and vice versa). When we redeem money from the fund, we sell those units. So, unlike an FD, there's is no separate principal component and interest component in a mutual fund.
They don’t provide 'regular income' - Since mutual funds don’t provide a fixed rate of return, they don’t provide a regular income.
Mutual funds can’t ‘run away with our money’ - Mutual fund companies are structured in such a way that there is no single point of failure. The flow of money in & out of a fund is tracked by several entities, so the AMC can't siphon away the investor's money. Incidents like the Unit 64 Scam can't happen anymore because of strict regulations.
Less is more - Invest in as few funds as possible. One mutual fund itself will invest in a diversified portfolio of securities. Investing in several funds will create a cluttered portfolio, and it’ll be tough to manage. In some cases, the different funds would be buying the same type of securities, which leads to an unnecessary overlap. Investing in several mutual funds without any proper strategy leads to diworsification.
Investor’s returns are different from the fund’s return : Ever wondered why the average investor lost money in the best performing mutual fund in history ? It's because investors enter and exit the fund at the wrong time. It's called Behavioural Gap, and it's the same reason why investors lose money in every mutual fund. Investors think that the 'market is gonna crash', and they stop investing or redeem their money. It causes them to get less returns than the fund. It's more important to invest consistently(and stay invested) than to invest in the 'best' fund(s).
There are no ‘best’ funds - Naturally an invest would want to invest in the fund(s) that provides the best return. However, there's no fund that will give 'good returns' all the time. Every year, the list of 'best' funds keep changing. An investor shouldn't blindly chase after returns, since it's a futile endeavour..
Star ratings are worthless - Several websites provide ratings for mutual funds by analysing various quantitative metrics like past returns, Sharpe ratio etc.. However, the performance of a mutual fund depends on so many factors, and it's impossible to properly quantify the risk & reward of a mutual fund through ratings. Don't select mutual funds based on ratings.

This document explains the unique type of funds like index funds, ETF and FoF. It also includes basic resources on how mutual funds can be selected.

Insurance Policies - ULIPs, Endowment Plans, Money Back plans

For decades, insurance companies have sold complex 'investment products' to unsuspecting investors. These products have been greatly beneficial for the insurance companies & the salesmen who sell the policies. But, the policy buyer often gets swindled out of their hard earned money.
Most of these plans take advantage of the fact that the buyer doesn't know about inflation & time value of money. And, the buyer don't know how to calculate the returns from investing in the plans. Insurance salesmen & Bank managers are always on the lookout for such people, and they shove these policies down people's throats. The salesmen nag the buyers so much that they'll buy it out of sheer social pressure. In many cases, the salesman would be a family friend or a relative. So, the buyer would be less inclined to say 'No'. These policies are also sold as 'tax-free returns' and 'better-than-FD returns', so many investors buy it without analysing it properly. The salesman promises unrealistic high returns, just to make a sale.
Insurance salesmen have been using such aggressive sales tactics for decades, because they make money whenever they sell these awful policies. The buyer is not even fully briefed about the policy, and the buyer is not given enough time to properly analyse the policy. The policy would also have a catchy name like 'Smart Privilege plan' or 'Retire Smart plan', so unsuspecting buyers get tricked into thinking that it's actually a good investment.
These policies also utilise the 'Sunk Cost Fallacy' (ie) These policies are structured in a way that the buyer can't get rid of the policy easily. Once the policy is bought, the buyer has to hold onto it for several years to recover atleast some of their money. So, even if the buyer knows that it's a terrible policy, they will be less inclined to cancel the policy because they'll lose out on a lot of money. So, most buyers just continue the policy because they don't want to lose the money they already paid to the policy.
AVOID all of these wealth-destroying policies. They're neither a proper investment nor a proper insurance. Simply buy Term Insurance depending on your requirement, and don't buy anything else.

Annuities

Annuities are financial products that provide a steady stream of income. Annuities are usually bought at the end of an investment journey by retirees. Generally, an investor pays a lump sum of money (or a series of regular payments) to an insurance company. And, the company starts to pay a regular stream of income for the person. The income stream can last throughout their lifetime or for a specific period of time.
The benefit of annuities is that an investor can get a guaranteed passive source of income without having to manage the investment themselves. They don't have to do anything. If the investor wants a completely hands-off approach of generating regular income, annuities can be a good way to do it.
However, the disadvantage is that the annuity payments are not usually inflation-protected. (ie) The annuity pays the same amount of money every year. When the investor's expenses keep increasing (because of inflation), the annuity payments won't be enough to manage their expenses.
Most investors can avoid annuities, since there are more efficient ways to generate regular income.

Chit Funds

Don't invest in Chit funds.

EPF

Employee Provident Fund is one of India's oldest investment options. It was established during the EPF Act of 1952. Employees of most organisations are mandated to put a portion of their salaries in EPF, so that the employees will have a hefty sum of money by the time they retire. The employers themselves will add some money to the employee's accounts. Adding money to the EPF account has tax benefits for both the employer & employee.
From an investment standpoint, EPF works in an RD - An investor puts their money in the EPF account, and EPF will provide a predetermined yearly interest (determined by the govt).
Although EPF is primarily intended as a 'retirement fund' in which a portion of the employee's salary is invested, the employee can voluntarily invest more money into the EPF account via VPF contributions. However, contributions to VPF and EPF can't be withdrawn easily. So, investor should think about their financial goals before putting too much money into the accounts.
Back in the day, EPF used to invest its corpus in bonds. Since 2015, some of the corpus has been invested in the stock market. Since interest rates on bonds are low, EPF will continue to pump money into the stock market to generate extra returns. EPF investors will get the guaranteed return, no matter what happens to the equity investments.
EPF is a complex archaic organisation that handles a massive corpus of money. It has made some questionable bond investments. For the past few years, the interest credit gets delayed by several months every year, which can be inconvenient. However, EPF is still one of the best fixed-income investment options. Investors can analyse the complex rules of EPF taxation & withdrawal, and make a choice on how much money they want to invest in EPF.

NPS

National Pension Scheme is a voluntary retirement savings scheme that is created to provide an adequate solution for retirement income. It's a defined-contribution scheme, in which an investor can invest money throughout their career. Once they retire, they can take the money out to fund their retirement.
Simply put, NPS is a hybrid mutual fund. Investing in NPS is as simple as investing in mutual funds. An investor can invest their money in four asset classes - Equity, Govt Bonds, Corporate Bonds & Alternate Investments. An investor can choose the proportion of these asset classes depending on their own preference, or they can let it be chosen automatically depending on their age. There are several Pension fund managers, and an investor can choose one of those funds. They can later switch to another fund, if they want. Pension fund managers disclose the fund portfolio every month, so we can see how & where our money is invested.
There are two type of accounts - Tier 1 and Tier 2. NPS has complex & strict withdrawal rules. Normal withdrawal from NPS can be done only at/after age 60. Among the corpus accumulated, atleast 40% has to be used to buy an annuity. The remaining 60% can be withdrawn tax-free.
Several organisations have started to provide NPS as a retirement product instead of EPF. NPS is still evolving into a better product, and its tax benefits alone can be a good incentive to invest in it.

Small Savings Schemes

These are fixed-income investment schemes launched by the Government. These schemes are popular because of low/no risk & attractive interest rates. The money collected through these schemes is kept in the National Small Savings Fund, through which the money will be invested in various govt securities and public agencies. Investors can avail the small saving schemes through the post office and big banks.
The most popular saving schemes are :

PPF : Public Provident Fund is a long-term savings scheme. The tenure of the investment is 15 years. A maximum of 1.5 lakh (and a minimum of 500) can be invested in a year by an investor. The scheme allows partial withdrawal before 15 years. It's popular because it's a risk-free & tax-free way to build wealth. PPF interest rates are decided every year, and the interest rate tends to be on-par with the 10-year Govt bond yield.
SSY : Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is helpful to invest money for the future of a girl child. Its features are very similar to PPF, except that it can only be opened for a girl child. The interest rate tends to be slightly higher than PPF. The maximum tenure is 21 years.
NSC : National Savings Certificate is a short-term saving scheme with a tenure of 5 years. The interest is compounded annually, but it is payable on maturity. Interest rates of the certificate will not change during the tenure. These certificates can be pledged as collateral to take out loans.
SCSS : Senior Citizens Savings Scheme was launched to provide a safe source of passive income for senior citizens. It is available for all citizens above age 60. It has a tenure of 5 years, and it can be extended for 3 more years. The maximum investment is 15 lakhs.

Some other savings schemes are Kisan Vikas Patra, Atal Pension Yojana etc..
Although the savings scheme tends to have higher interest rates than govt bonds, the interest rate can be expected to trend downwards in the future.
(To be cont'd in Part 2)

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The Best Guide: How to recover funds lost to a scam 2022

Meta: Do you want to know How to recover funds lost to a scam? Then you have come to the right place. Here is a detailed guide about how to recover money from fraudsters.

How do you recover funds lost to a scam? We're at a time when we see more and more scams and fraudulent businesses. Also, this is due to several factors, including new technology allowing hackers to access usernames and password information. Especially with Crypto where its almost like an unregulated industry and people lose their assets, NFTs and more.

In the past, merchants have avoided much of this by requiring that users have login credentials unique to their accounts. However, thanks to recent efforts on merchants, scammers have been increasingly targeting individuals and companies that use the same username and password for multiple accounts.

How To Recover Funds Lost To A Scam Step By Step Guide
Begin by announcing the scam
How do you recover funds lost to a scam? Moving quickly and securing your account is significant if you've been misled out of cash. Also, this is the thing the specialists suggest you do when you notice any dubious movement or suspect that you have been defrauded:

Inform your bank or charge card guarantor
Contact your bank or Visa guarantor promptly to report any unapproved charges and solicitation of another account or Mastercard, says Mason Wilder, an ensured misrepresentation inspector and senior exploration expert at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Federal Trade Commission.
If you've been a casualty of misrepresentation, wholesale fraud, or misleading strategic policies, recording a shopper grievance with the FTC might be a decent choice for you to recuperate cash from a trickster possibly. In 2019 alone, the FTC had the option to give more than $232 million in discounts to individuals who lost money to unlawful strategic policies.

Record the subtleties
No matter what the sort of trick you've encountered, Abramson suggests recording the subtleties of your case. As you work to recuperate the cash you lost to a trickster, these subtleties can be helpful for your bank or the FTC.

How to get a scammer in trouble Whether it's an email, message, or virtual entertainment message you got from a trickster or your bank proclamation with fraudulent charges featured, print or record the data and make duplicates of everything.

Having persistence in this process is likewise significant. Both Wilder and Abramson say the timetable to recuperate cash from a trickster can shift in light of the sum and the subtleties of the occurrence.

Secure your funds and records
How to recover funds lost to a scam With regards to shielding your cash and data from expected fraudsters, the best safeguard is a decent offense. I got scammed. Follow these means to recuperate from being defrauded and to shield yourself from future extortion endeavors:

Consider a credit freeze.
Consider placing a credit score freeze on your credit report if you're thinking about what to do when defrauded out of cash and your data has been compromised. A credit freeze is a method for limiting admittance shockingly reports. It could assist with keeping a trickster from applying for a line of credit or a credit extension with your data, Wilder says
.
"I'd prescribe a credit stick to any individual who has found they are a casualty of fraud or found unapproved buys on their charge or Mastercards," Wilder adds.

How to recover funds lost to a scamTo freeze your credit, contact the significant distinction detailing associations — TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Note that a credit freeze will stay set up until you request that the credit department lift it, either briefly or for all time.

Reset your passwords
How to recover funds lost to a scam At the point when you are recuperating from being misled, Abramson suggests resetting your passwords. Center around any compromised records or records connected to your installment data, similar to your portable banking application or internet shopping destinations.

Settle on two-factor confirmation
Two-factor validation is an additional layer of safety that requires a different type of personality affirmation beyond your username and secret word. If you empower two-factor confirmation, a one-time code will be shipped off to you through instant message or email each time you sign in to your record with your username and secret key. Just the enlisted telephone number or email address will want to check and sign into the history.

How to recover funds lost to a scam Whether, via web-based entertainment or your portable banking application, this additional security is one more method for recuperating from being misled by checking that you, not a trickster, are the one getting to the record.

Set up alarms for your ledgers
While recuperating from being misled, you may likewise need to empower alarms on your financial balances to assist you with spotting dubious movement.

Think about setting up cautions for each exchange or exchange over a specific dollar sum. Also, you may likewise have the option to set up alarms for ATM withdrawals or, on the other hand, assume that your record is overdrawn.

Utilize a Visa in new exchanges
On the off chance that you are discussing whether to utilize your Visa or check card, Wilder and Abramson propose using a Mastercard, assuming that you're uncertain about the security of an exchange.

Figure out how to recognize con artists
After managing the aftermath of being defrauded out of cash and attempting to recuperate from being misled, dive more deeply into the most widely recognized tricks. By understanding how you might interact with a trickster and what specialists view as warnings, you might have the option to acknowledge an expected plan.

Here are tips to remember to assist you with remaining cautious, including how to safeguard yourself on the web:

Be careful about pushy guests.
Calls were the top way individuals announced being reached by con artists in 2019. Those con artists frequently industriously requested cash or individual data, as per the FTC's 2019 trick report.
Abramson says how to recover funds lost to a scam. Be careful about a guest who requests that you burn through cash and afterward surges you into a choice.

Watch out for phishing messages.
Like scam calls, con artists send phishing messages to get to your financial data or inspire you to download vindictive programming.

Phishing messages are much of the time loaded with dodgy spelling and awful language structure, Abramson says, so give close consideration to those indications.

Dubious connections are another hint, so pause before clicking, particularly when an email prompts you to give delicate data like your client ID or secret phrase.
As Per The FTC, Alternate Ways Tricksters Are Exploiting The Pandemic Include:
Acting like COVID-19 contact tracers.
Sending deceitful messages or messages acting like government associations.
Sharing promotions or offers for inoculations and home test packs.
To Keep awake to date on the most recent tricks.

How to recover money from fraudsters
The most well-known botch individuals make is having an "It would never happen to me" disposition, Abramson and Wilder said. Indeed, even prepared experts can succumb to scams.
Contact your bank and report the false exchange. Please inquire whether they can switch the wire move and give you your cashback. Did you send cash through a cash move application? Report the fake exchange to the organization behind the cash move application and inquire whether they can switch the installment.
However, there are so many cases with Crypto and Forex that Banks cant do anything about, some of those Crypto can be Recovered by Recovery experts like assetsrepo.com, they have Licensed Experienced attorneys and Private Investigators that take on cases and they have high success rate.
Conclusion
How do you recover funds lost to a scam? There is a scam taking place daily in the world's major financial markets. Unfortunately, unsuspecting individuals fall victim to all of it and stop asking,"how do I protect myself?"

Well, it's time you were armed with the skills to recognize and try to minimize the threat. One way to do this is to learn how to identify scams, who's behind them and how to avoid them.

PSA: Common scams, their modus operandi and tips on avoiding scams (REVISED)

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email by from a student loan service about phishing awareness and it has link spoofing to a mail-chimp list

i get email from my student loan provider it talks about phishing awareness and it has a active links that looks like kind of spoofed or misdirected/misspelled. so the emails were delivered to spam, what was the point to run the campaign if they reach to users' spam. Here is the email without my info
```HTML
Received: by 2002:ac2:4db6:0:0:0:0:0 with SMTP id h22csp2655490lfe; Mon, 15 Jun 2020 03:16:37 -0700 (PDT) X-Google-Smtp-Source: ABdhPJxeN2+m0pk4TiEAVsYqodoe/Dl1lZu9lpAP4o0dBn8z7VyZcy9ZJaI8HAWbfnMs2jCxM0Fz X-Received: by 2002:a25:8384:: with SMTP id t4mr40612009ybk.430.1592216197506; Mon, 15 Jun 2020 03:16:37 -0700 (PDT) ARC-Seal: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; t=1592216197; cv=none; d=google.com; s=arc-20160816; b=zgcqrBL74TrY4VAtxWZy8m38+mO7seb0fImsR9b4k/l4hdxo89u80Bp3Th3Xk87UKW kiPcIZ5EWcw4rL10AEGyJvJY/8yqoIpsClcDmjFN1oHcRRJ64H5+2xdrTqjfolKLUxuc hYakTCQ0H7zf1TsYmTlmjoKRjtgRJnn3iJ4fK4dVb9sdy4CSO/ZEBSRfE4XztPf1PmsC Cc7Sgj+mcnqVKcH9xvvpyYaNynU+0AVlK/CAnXIt/gMlSvc5CuJG+Vy27G96AztmBR2v pOkDzjazo21cTdymOqPNJlBOeMHzsu7dQcUUyzbUREMtNxnZyDPWAEeF8cZGQoIocg5L WnLg== ARC-Message-Signature: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=google.com; s=arc-20160816; h=mime-version:list-unsubscribe-post:list-unsubscribe:list-id :feedback-id:message-id:date:to:reply-to:from:subject:dkim-signature :dkim-signature; bh=geQyYy+aZdPFXhIwtGeTmMko6kSJYqgLTtKjACW0baw=; b=RKGp42PQsgOGalWYWPqTllF43cD4gBgSFRyhdwW7GYa7/KhkWqslaOSM6ueL0DUIE+ cv0bvIV5nPcuzbEnrjOT0m0jeDkHmfgjXuQMqRdYry+24xvMX+xdtqKgqHRxHrkl+HGF uF/lmbJMRj6E4abHE4tJMYkUX6Tc/544JdyJV8/MkBUL89z+yUvrZbSfBlIeZS6i6lL+ wp8RXIW67+EQIrbh8etkf3EXnJKzZI94CwVF6pA/1d8TmvQOeLjjNSBaBrIeBWRTJynZ ffp8lIKnylbWW6nMAqpRa+wAWqTtx10raUUCPw00DdiNY8g35JVy63Jk/zJPpYfLtHl6 0sJA== ARC-Authentication-Results: i=1; mx.google.com; dkim=pass [email protected] header.s=k1 header.b=oY+NakTF; dkim=pass [email protected] header.s=k1 header.b="OtN/71MF"; spf=pass (google.com: domain of [email protected] designates 205.201.129.6 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=[email protected] Return-Path: Received: from mail6.wdc01.mcdlv.net (mail6.wdc01.mcdlv.net. [205.201.129.6]) by mx.google.com with (version=TLS1_2 cipher=ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128); Mon, 15 Jun 2020 03:16:37 -0700 (PDT) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of [email protected] designates 205.201.129.6 as permitted sender) client-ip=205.201.129.6; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; dkim=pass [email protected] header.s=k1 header.b=oY+NakTF; dkim=pass [email protected] header.s=k1 header.b="OtN/71MF"; spf=pass (google.com: domain of [email protected] designates 205.201.129.6 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=[email protected] DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.mcsv.net; s=k1; t=1592215706; bh=geQyYy+aZdPFXhIwtGeTmMko6kSJYqgLTtKjACW0baw=; h=Subject:From:Reply-To:To:Date:Message-ID:Feedback-ID:List-ID: List-Unsubscribe:Content-Type:MIME-Version; b=oY+NakTF3r5o1jsDToNzcUyOwZzhpyyWeiArxQ47HjxHequ/s300o0AFL/lyQsl8E 2oj7UWsIchVJP0dMxuUAGsSfQ6nOe/DU47FTaK2E4UV+LJR8PEfDqygMgNl+zXajHq /94JNjnYiadnJ21BPMqONshoSiZzrPLkmHnitNH0= DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=mailchimpapp.net; s=k1; t=1592215706; i=noreply=[email protected]; bh=geQyYy+aZdPFXhIwtGeTmMko6kSJYqgLTtKjACW0baw=; h=Subject:From:Reply-To:To:Date:Message-ID:List-ID:List-Unsubscribe: Content-Type:MIME-Version; b=OtN/71MFtvgMJ6g8xsr5RqAHE3U5H7/zYuUxPBcG0wltAdIg6Jc7FdD9mjGnzm966 vF4FUcMKoSUxVqLgMOwzUn7DLcAGWfocWv6tfiappkz4rvfWkAZwrdVpp6B4sra+Vr JHKa51YlK9qDxo/7tkeohsA7WWmuQNjwuk0dAgpI= Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mail6.wdc01.mcdlv.net (Mailchimp) with ESMTP id 49ln8p2GQNz3sRrgf for
Subject: Advisory on Precautions to protect against increasing Cyber Threats From: HDFC Credila [email protected] Reply-To: HDFC Credila [email protected]
--_----------=_MCPart_1737885663 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format="fixed" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Dear Customer, We hope all is well with you and your loved ones. With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic=C3=82 across the world forcing a loc= kdown to contain its spread,=C3=82 many corporations and companies were for= ced to adopt remote connectivity and work from home leading to an increase = in cyber threats=C3=82 which are=C3=82 constantly evolving. It has been=C3= =82 observed that in recent times,=C3=82 cybercriminals have been capitaliz= ing on this crisis by attacking computer networks, network systems of indiv= iduals, businesses, government bodies=C3=82 and even global organizations b= y way of Email Phishing and SMS.
We recommend the following Do=C3=A2s as guidelines to keep away from malici= ous e-mails / SMS
Do's * Check if the mail is sent from unknown source/person or e-mail has unknow= n URLs * Always check if the sender=C3=A2s email address looks different from thei= r display name. example: where your service provider is HDFC Credila but ad= dress looks like=C3=82 www.hdfccredilla.com (http://www.irtel.com/) =C3=82 = etc. * Check if the mail / SMS has spelling mistake or has grammatical errors or= is unprofessionally drafted =C3=A2 this is a clear signal that it=C3=A2s a= spam mail * Install and update your virus detector / Anti-virus software always * Install apps downloaded from reputed application market * When downloading an app - Verify app permissions and grant only those per= missions which have relevant context for the app=C3=A2s purpose * Avoid using unsecured, unknown Wi-Fi networks. There may be rogue Wi-Fi a= ccess points at public places used for distributing malicious applications * Transact on secure websites i.e. https websites only
=C3=82 Don=C3=A2ts * Do not click on the links of unknown users * Never reply to any e-mail/ SMS which asks you to confirm your personal de= tails. * Never share your login id and password with any person * In settings, do not enable installation of apps from "untrusted sources".
We at HDFC Credila recommend that you should stay alert and refer to securi= ty best practices for mobile phone users by=C3=82 Clicking here (http://tra= ns.edelweiss.co.in/YNUPGRJZM?id=3D25974=3DcU8IVFQBCFRXTFVTBAAJBQIJCUo=3DFVF= UUEBDX1VZB19dclRVBQ9YHwAMXRlSAQkJDAYAAQZQAQYFCgIPBUsJEhBCCRdLEkZQDRAeAAdRXE= 5QW0pKGAVbGFhdGG96YjEhNnhpdVsPUE0VUQ=3D=3D&fl=3DWkdMFBUOHkwURxJNV0lbUEBKTlc= FXF5FUlxTWlMTB0pVXE5KD1oeBwxTEA5RXk1GHXRWVA9YU25DX1laUj41AVFGSg0STR8TB1Y=3D= )
Stay Alert - Stay Safe!
Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
http://www.= w3.org/Txhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> HDFC Credila

Dear Customer,
We hope all is well with you and your loved ones.
With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic=C2=A0across the world forcing = a lockdown to contain its spread,=C2=A0many corporations and companies were= forced to adopt remote connectivity and work from home leading to an incre= ase in cyber threats=C2=A0which are=C2=A0constantly evolving. It has been= =C2=A0observed that in recent times,=C2=A0cybercriminals have been capitali= zing on this crisis by attacking computer networks, network systems of indi= viduals, businesses, government bodies=C2=A0and even global organizations b= y way of Email Phishing and SMS.

We recommend the following Do=E2=80=99s = as guidelines to keep away from malicious e-mails / SMS

=09Do's

Check if the mail is sent from unknown source/person or e-mai= l has unknown URLs
Always check if the sender=E2=80=99s email address looks diff= erent from their display name. example: where your service provider is HDFC= Credila but address looks like=C2=A0 www.hdfccredilla.com=C2=A0etc.
Check if the mail / SMS has spelling mistake or has grammat= ical errors or is unprofessionally drafted =E2=80=93 this is a clear signal= that it=E2=80=99s a spam mail
Install and update your virus detector / Anti-virus softwar= e always
Install apps downloaded from reputed application market
When downloading an app - Verify app permissions and grant = only those permissions which have relevant context for the app=E2=80=99s pu= rpose
Avoid using unsecured, unknown Wi-Fi networks. There may be= rogue Wi-Fi access points at public places used for distributing malicious= applications
Transact on secure websites i.e. https websites only

=C2=A0 Don=E2=80=99ts

Do not click on the links of unknown users
Never reply to any e-mail/ SMS which asks you to confirm = your personal details.
Never share your login id and password with any person
In settings, do not enable installation of apps from "unt= rusted sources".

We at HDFC Credila recommend that you should stay alert and r= efer to security best practices for mobile phone users by=C2=A0 Clicking here

Stay Alert - Stay Safe!=

This email was sent to redacted
= why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update su= bscription preferences
HDFC Credila Financial Services Pri= vate Limited · 101, Shanta Madhav Sankul · MICO Circle, Tidke= Colony · Nashik 422002 · India

--_----------=_MCPart_1737885663-- ```

PSA: Common scams, their modus operandi and tips on avoiding scams

There needs to be more awareness on scams, hence this post. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, just a few common ones. As it's a long post, I used headings and bullet points to make it more digestible rather than a wall of text. All sources are credited but I left out any, please inform me and I will edit my post.

IMPORTANT!!

1. Identifying accounts used by scammers by verifying if a Malaysian Bank Account or Telephone number has been used in an online fraud case or scam:
How: Go on https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my/
2. Blocking spam calls
How: Install Truecaller

General guideline if you have been scammed (Source: BNM)

Firstly, you are advised to lodge a police report.
Then, to report to the relevant enforcement agency.
You must keep all records and documentations for the investments such as bank-in slips, deposit slips, agreements, vouchers that you received from the company or perpetrator so that you can use the documents to take action against the company.
This includes details of the officers or key persons that you dealt with in the company. This information could prove useful for enforcement purposes.

Who to report to:

https://preview.redd.it/958ffumdsm381.jpg?width=544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29d71d1eed642c90897647b0c03363bbeb251ca6
1.PDRM
2. BNM (Bank Negara)

Lodge a complaint using their weblink: https://telelink.bnm.gov.my/
Any of the BNM offices (Face-to-face consultations will require appointment made through the weblink or hotline)
BNMTELELINK (Contact Centre) Tel: 1-300-88-5465 (1-300-88-LINK)

3.KPDNHEP (complaints regarding goods and services)

Toll free number (1-800-886-800)
System e-Aduan: http://e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my/
WhatsApp

4. KPKT (complaints regarding licensed money lenders, usually for illegal money lenders or Along they refer to PDRM)

Lodge a complaint on: https://aduan.kpkt.gov.my/aduan-online/entry/aduanperumahan.cfm
Call their hotline Bahagian Kawalan Kredit Komuniti (BKKK) on 03-8891 4694/4690
Go to Kaunter Aduan KPKT di Aras 1, KPKT di Putrajaya.

5.MCMC (complaints regarding cyber scams which include telecommunications services, broadcasting services, Internet services, postal services, online content problems, USP and more. Check the full list here)

Lodge a complaint on: https://aduan.skmm.gov.my/

6. National Consumer Complaints Centre

Lodge a complaint on https://ncccaduan.firebaseapp.com/ (but it is currently offline until December 31st 2021)

TYPES OF SCAMS

SCAM TYPE 1: PINJAMAN TIDAK WUJUD

Source: KPDNHEP
Modus operandi: Offering loans via socmed such as FB, Instagram and WhatsApp
Prevention [Source: Harian Metro]

Don't fall for low interest rate and "fast money guaranteed" offer
Be physically present at financial institutions or licensed money lenders for loan application instead of through socmed
Go on i-KrediKom which was launched on 5th April 2019 for a list of licensed moneylenders or community credit companies registered under the KPKT

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 2: PARCEL SCAM

Source: Malay Mail and PIDM
Prevention [Source: Ninjavan]:

Keep track of all your purchases.
Do not accept parcels / items that you are not expecting, especially if you have to pay for it.
Parcel scam is often another form of love scam, in which the scammer will claim to send a parcel with valuable items or money and promise commission/jewelries to the victim but need to pay for “courier service”.

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 3: LOVE SCAM

Source: Free Malaysia Today and PIDM
Prevention [Source:Investright.org and RHB Bank]

They cannot meet you in person and avoid video chats.
They profess their love early on in relationships and flood you with affectionate messages.
They steer the conversation toward finances and ask for money.
They may ask for your nude photos or perform sexual acts in front of a webcam and may threaten to spread the photos to family, friends and strangers if you stop sending them money.
Love scam is often another form of parcel scam, in which the scammer will claim to send a parcel with valuable items or money and promise commission/jewelries to the victim but need to pay for “courier service”.

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 4: ILLEGAL INVESTMENT

Source: Securities Commission
Prevention [Source: The Edge Markets]:

Verify the status of individuals or companies offering investing opportunities via Security Commission’s website and whether they are on the list of unauthorised websites, investment products, companies and individuals.
Remember the golden rule - if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam
Deal only with licensed financial institutions and authorised dealers
Be cautious of investments offered via social media platforms or fake celebrities endorsements
Don't be pressured or rushed to invest
Be sceptical of any investment opportunity that is not in writing
In case an investment has been made, keep copies of all the investment and communications

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 5: FINANCIAL SCAM

Source: Bernama
Financial scam # Type 1: Low loan interest
https://preview.redd.it/px706yeytm381.jpg?width=427&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45ee6b49c269da1be0e0e60d2ec2442040881689
How do loans work [Source: Hong Leong Bank]

There will always be an official document (printed or digital) which discloses clearly your loan details
You will never have to pay any sum upfront as it is illegal for a lender to ask for pre-payment
Find out who the borrower is and be sure the loans are from licensed financial institutions since they are regulated by the central bank and therefore the safest option or iKreditKom app by KPKT(Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan) which allows people to check whether the lending company is legally registered before making a loan.
Licensed financial institutions and/or banks DO NOT appoint or engage third parties or agents for the process of securing loans [Source: ABM (Association of Banks in Malaysia)]

Red Flags [Source: Hong Leong Bank]:

A lender who has zero interest in your credit history, and ads that say “No hassle-fast money guaranteed” or “We don’t care about your credit”.
Legitimate lenders will only approve loan once they accessed your credit history.
The entire loan process takes place via WhatsApp or socmed
Upfront payment: Some scammers claim you need to pay a processing fee due to bad credit health
Pressured to act immediately: Scammers may pressure you to give personal information or send money before providing proper documentation

Further news articles:

Financial scam # Type 2: Identity Theft
Source: RHB
Prevention: [Source: CIMB]:

Always remember to log out once you have completed your banking transactions.
Never share details such as your card number / User ID / PIN / password / TAC with anyone or key them in in any website other than the official banking sites
Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown / unreliable senders / sources (Example: Emails from CIMB will always end with u/cimb.com
Don’t write your PIN anywhere which is easily accessible to anyone.
Never save your card details on your browser.
Never use easy-to-guess Card PINs such as date of birth.

Financial scam # Type 3: Mule Account Scam
Source: TheStar and PIDM
Prevention [Source: Maybank and ABM]:

Do not allow your account to be used or handled by any third party or unknown persons.
Do not share your account bank details i.e. Internet Banking User Name and/or Password, ATM Card, PIN Number or TAC to a third party.
Do not be tempted by lucrative job offers with involve you handing over your ATM card/online banking details as enforcement action will be taken against you if you are found to be involved

Further news articles:

Financial scam # Type 4: Email Scam
Source: Public Bank
Prevention [Source: BNM]

Use web browsers that are up-to-date with built-in phishing filters.
DO NOT trust emails, calls or SMS claiming cash wins or refunds and requesting for personal banking information.
Contact your respective banks or contact the Associations of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) toll-free service called ABMConnect at 1-300-88-9980 when in doubt of the email, SMS or calls.

Image example of email scam 1: Beware of email scam requesting for banking information
Image example of email scam 2: Samples of phishing emails
Financial scam # Type 5: Loan Deferment Scam
Source: AmBank
Modus operandi and prevention [Source: Alliance Bank]

First, scammers will contact via phones, emails, social media and offer to provide assistance in loan payment deferment application.
Next, they will provide a URL to bank lookalike application form for customers to fill in personal & banking details
Finally, request for “processing fee” for loan deferment application. Use the bank’s official channels instead of 3rd party agents to get more details on loan deferment.

SCAM TYPE 8: INHERITANCE SCAM

Source: Malay Mail and PIDM
Modus operandi [Source: scamwatch.gov.au]:

A scammer may contact you out of the blue to tell you that you can claim a large inheritance from a distant relative or wealthy benefactor. You may be contacted by letter, phone call, text message, email or social networking message.
The scammer usually poses as a lawyer, banker or other foreign official, and claims that the deceased left no other beneficiaries.
Sometimes the scammer will say you are legally entitled to claim the inheritance. Alternatively, they might say that an unrelated wealthy person has died without a will, and that you can inherit their fortune through some legal trickery because you share the same last name.
You will be told that your supposed inheritance is difficult to access due to government regulations, taxes or bank restrictions in the country where the money is held, and that you will need to pay money and provide personal details to claim it.

Red flags/prevention [Source: scamwatch.gov.au]

May look convincing and use official-looking letterhead and logos, but will usually contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
Size of the supposed inheritance may be very large, sometimes many millions of dollars.
You are asked to provide your bank account details, copies of identity documents as verification, and to pay a series of fees, charges or taxes to help release or transfer the money out of the country through your bank.
Do an internet search using the names, contact details or exact wording of the letteemail to check for any references to a scam – many scams can be identified this way.

SCAM TYPE 9: E-Commerce SCAM

Source: https://www.agelessonline.net/e-commerce-scams-on-the-rise/
Prevention [Source: nasilemaktech] :

Avoid making purchases on FB, WhatsApp and other social media platforms
Must have clear description of products
Beware of fake websites.
Always check the URL for errors/inconsistencies/poor grammar and look out for accessible contact information.
Do not believe 100% online reviews and be sure to ask the seller if you have any questions
For expensive items on Lazada/Shopee, recommended to buy from “Official Stores” which is 100% legit to ensure legitimacy and genuinity of the product.
For e-commerce platforms such as Lazada/Shopee, red flag if seller requests buyers to contact via WhatsApp in product details and insist on avoiding payment through Lazada and payment made directly to their own account.

SCAM TYPE 10: JOB SCAM

Source: https://www.reddit.com/malaysia/comments/r7sa6v/is_this_a_scam/ by u/magnum361
Prevention and Identifying fake job offers [Source: Randstad]:

Search for jobs advertised on reputable and legitimate employment websites, such as JobStreet (still have to be cautious)
Red flag if money is involved and you are asked to transfer money for medical check, work pass application or to attend the job interview
The company has no website or official/corporate social media account
You did not apply for the job
The job is too good to be true and job description is unclear or too short
Poor use of the English language with multiple typos and grammatical errors in the job advertisement or text messages, or “job offer” that starts with “Hi dear…”
You found the job posting in a random social media community
They ask you for your personal information such as your mobile number or ID photo on messaging platforms

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 11: SMS/PHONE CALL SCAM

Source: Sinar Harian and PIDM
Prevention [Source: CIMB]:

Do not respond to SMS or call from unknown person asking for your credit/debit card or online banking details.
Do not respond to any SMS or call that claiming it's coming from Bank Negara. Their officer will never call you to ask for your credit/debit card or banking particulars.
If someone claiming to be from your card service provider calls you and asks you to confirm the security numbers on the back of the card (the last three digits on the back of the card), you should end the call immediately.
Watch out for poor grammar in the SMS.
Check your transactions regularly.

SCAM TYPE 12: MACAU SCAM

Source: MCMC and Bernama
Prevention:

If you think a caller is suspicious, or if your caller is constantly pressuring you to disclose personal information,end the call and block the number.
Do not panic if you receive a call from someone posing as a BNM staff/MACC/court officePOS Malaysia/bank officepolice/LHDN.
Do not keep to yourself and tell a family member.
Do not reveal any details about your bank accounts to the caller
Do not call the number given by the caller who claim to connect you to for instance, BNM staff or an inspector
Verify with the relevant authorities by calling their official number

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 13: SHOPEE SCAM

Source: Shopee
Common Shopee scams:
Shopee Scam # Type 1: Job scams

Scenario 1: A job offer that requires you to pay to get paid
Scenario 2: The same job scam with an upgrade

How to avoid [Source: Shopee Online Shopping Safety Tips]

Shopee does not employ any individuals to recruit employees through messaging platforms
Shopee also confirms that there is no such role as “Online Purchasing Agents”
Shopee will never request for advance payment or deposits as a requirement to work with them.
Screenshot conversation as proof when reporting to the authorities

Further news articles: Shopee and Lazada online purchasing agent job offer is a scam
Shopee Scam # Type 2: Stealing personal/bank account details through SMS/phone calls/Fake Seller Centre Scam

Scenario 1: Scammers steal bank account details via SMS/phone calls
Scenario 2: Scammers requests for OTP after victim places an order on Shopee
Scenario 3: Scammer impersonates to be victim's friend on social media
Scenario 4: Scammers steal seller Shopee account details via SMS/WhatsApp

How to avoid [Source: Shopee Online Shopping Safety Tips]

Do not call the number stated in the SMS
Contact respective bank using the contact number stated at the back of your card for any queries
Do not share OTP with anyone including family and friends and Shopee will never ask for OTP
Shopee will only contact users/sellers via official channel such as Official FB page or through Shopee app notification.

Shopee Scam # Type 3: Payment Scam

Scenario 1: Scammer targets users through sponsored posts impersonating to be Shopee
Scenario 2: Scammer impersonating as Shopee on unofficial channels for campaigns/giveaways
Scenario 3: Scammers request direct payments out of Shopee via WhatsApp/Line/Wechat
Scenario 4: Scammers request refund for overpaid orders
Scenario 5: Scammers pressure victims into making direct bank transfers

How to avoid [Source: Shopee Online Shopping Safety Tips]

All finance-related activities should be strictly done through Shopee App and Web only, and when in doubt, check with the authorities or Shopee’s customer service

Shopee Scam # Type 4: Shopee unofficial channel/fake Shopee website scams

Scenario 1: Scammers steal victim's login information via phishing websites
Scenario 2: Scammers use pop-up ads on websites to gain victim's trust and information using Shopee logo
Scenario: Scammers attempted to get the victim's personal details via private message on social media

How to avoid [Source: Shopee Online Shopping Safety Tips]

All announcements for Shopee campaigns or prizes will only be made through official Shopee channels
Shopee will only reach out to campaign/contests/giveaway winners through official page/Shopee app notification
All Shopee vouchers will only be distributed through their official channels-Shopee App, Shopee website and official social media accounts only.
Shopee will only contact users/sellers via official channel such as Official FB page or through Shopee app notification.

Shopee Scam # Type 5: Parcel Scam

Scenario 1: Scammers contact victim that they might have an unclaimed package via SMS/phone calls
Scenario 2: Scammers send out a message through social media platforms to inform that victim has won a prize

How to avoid [Source: Shopee Online Shopping Safety Tips]

Beware of messages/links from unknown individuals asking for OTP/verification codes
Always keep count on the orders you have really made from Shopee

Shopee Scam # Type 6: Fake Products

Scenario: Tech-related item scams on Shopee such as USB Drives, SD cards and also external hard drives.

How to avoid (credits to u/PRSXFENG): 1. The seller usually has poor English 2. The ships from address is usually invalid (00000 postcode), so you can't return it for refund. 3. 1TB storage drives are still quite expensive, you're not getting a RM15 1TB USB drive, it's a scam, the drive will show 1TB when plugged in but you'll loose data soon, so compare prices with well known brands. 4. Seller usually give a lot of free gifts 5. Seller usually has a bunch of useless keyword texts thrown in like FREE SHIPPING, FAST SHIPPING 24 HOURS, LOCAL SELLER, TRUSTED, HUGE DISCOUNT 6. Check 1 star reviews for call-outs (eg, h2testw) 7. Disregard Shopee's "authentic product guaranteed", I've seen known scams with that tag (eg, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi branded microsd cards, they do not exist) 8. Seller name is usually a mash of letters that looks like someone mashed their keyboard.

SCAM TYPE 14: LAZADA SCAM

Lazada Scam # Type 1: Fake Lazada contests and giveaways
Source: [Lazada Singapore]
How the scam works and what you should do [Source: Lazada]:

Scammers lead you to a phishing site and gain access to your personal details shared.
Only participate in contests that are officially conducted by Lazada on their official channels

Lazada Scam # Type 2: Job scam
Case Study 1: Purchasing products to “increase traffic and clicks” and promising commission by u/liamkohwil: Thread: “Update: Scamming through Lazada. PLEASE HELP
Case Study 2: Fake Lazada Affiliate Marketing Group by u/roboukiiscool: Thread: “Prevalent Scam to watch out for: Lazada Affiliate Marketing Group
How the scam works by u/roboukiiscool:

You help them buy 'products' for them in which they will pay you a small % of commission on (in this case 8%)
After purchasing the 'products', you send them a payment slip as evidence of you actually purchasing and they'll supposedly pay you back the original amount of cash you paid for the product AND the commission they promised.
It starts from small amounts such as rm 5 rm 25 rm50 rm100 and you get 8% commission for all these transactions, sounds like easy money and they gain your trust already.
The higher cost transactions will be around rm500 and this is where they'll start to test how far they can take you, they call this the 'vip lounge' or something cringe, so you thinking you're earning easy commission money through making such sales, you let your guard down.
The scammers think they have extracted enough from you then they'll come and give excuses on why they cannot reimburse your cash and commission anymore, late on payment, transaction did not comply etc etc . Basically just ignore and block you after that.
You lose high amount of money from the 'product' you were supposed to be reimbursed back. Not to mention, the 'product' probably doesnt even exist so there's that.

Lazada Scam # Type 3: Making transactions outside of Lazada platform
How the scam works and what you should do [Source: Lazada]:

Scammers block your contact after receiving your payment, with no delivery or refund issued.
Off-platform transactions are not protected by Lazada, so always buy and transact within the Lazada platform.

What you should do if you are scammed on Lazada (by u/sasa86):

Compile all screenshots, especially the part where the 'seller' promises refund
Make a police report, claiming fraud
Forward a copy of police report and compiled screenshots to Lazada, as the platform strictly prohibits sellers from conducting sales outside the platform
Once Lazada confirms receipt of said report, forward it to the 'seller' together with a copy of the police report AND state that you will pursue legal action if the money is not refunded by XX days
When making statements to police or Lazada or 'seller', be calm and not be too angry when 'seller' replies to ask you for more time or delay, just shut him off and say sorry, please refund by XX days, then don't say anything more than necessary

SCAM TYPE 15: CAROUSELL

Source: https://www.carousell.com.my/p/scam-be-aware-of-this-people-and-this-kind-of-email-141458605/
How the scam works:

Scammers typically insist for conversation to take place on WhatsApp instead of Carousel and once payment is made, they will block you. [Case Study: Has anyone here gotten scammed on carousell before]
Scammers claim that they have overpaid and that you need to refund them [Case Study: Beware of this scam]

What you should do:

For expensive items, always insist on COD or Carousell Protection
If item is too cheap, then it's good to be true and likely a scam.
For sellers, recommended not to sell to a user based in another country
Check seller or buyer's ratings and go for the lowest star review instead of 5-star
Report to police as well as Carousell so they can suspend the seller's account
Make offer and wait for it to be accepted so that you can leave a review to warn others

SCAM TYPE 16: HAJJ/UMRAH PACKAGE SCAM

Source: PDRM
Prevention [Source: PDRM]

Do not fall for cheap Umrah packages, especially those offered on socmed or WhatsApp (ex: RM2000 for haj and umrah which is unrealistic price after permit, accommodation, transport and food costs are taken into consideration).
Check https://www.motac.gov.my/en/semakan/umrah for a list of licensed and approved travel agencies that offer Umrah packages

What to do if you have been scammed:

Lodge a police report and also go on https://motac.spab.gov.my/eApps/system/index.do?aplCode=en to lodge a complaint

Further news articles:

SCAM TYPE 17: SCRATCH & WIN (used to be rampant but may make a comeback )

Modus operandi [Source: Straitstimes]

The scam works like this: The crooks approach the victims and ask them to try their luck with a scratch card.
In some cases, victims may receive calls about winning a “contest”. They tell the victims they have won a mystery prize and ask them to go to an office to find out what it is.
When they arrive, the con men reveal the "prize", usually cheap electrical goods, such as foot massagers. The victims are offered the chance to win a more substantial prize, and asked to hand over cash in advance to cover bogus costs such as "taxes".

OTHER SCAMS:

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market open?

A beginner's guide on how to select your investments [Part 1]

What is investing ?

Why should we invest ?

1) To build wealth

2) To crush inflation

Where should we invest ?

Stocks

Bonds

Real Estate

Commodities

Fixed Deposits

Mutual funds

Insurance Policies - ULIPs, Endowment Plans, Money Back plans

Annuities

Chit Funds

EPF

NPS

Small Savings Schemes

XM Review

XM Review

XM Review

XM Regulation

XM Supported Countries

XM Platforms

XM Global MT4

XM Global MT5

XM Account Opening

XM Accounts & Fees

XM Group Support

XM Summary

Ic Markets: Review

Ic Markets: Review

What Is Ic Markets?

Ic Markets: Pros And Cons

Top IC Markets Features

IC Markets Pricing

IC Markets Reliability & Security

IC Markets User Experience

IC Markets Conclusion

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The Best Guide: How to recover funds lost to a scam 2022

The Best Guide: How to recover funds lost to a scam 2022

PSA: Common scams, their modus operandi and tips on avoiding scams (REVISED)

General guideline if you have been scammed (Source: BNM)

Who to report to:

SCAM TYPE 1: SMS/CALL /MACAU SCAMS

SCAM TYPE 2: FINANCIAL SCAM

SCAM TYPE 3: ILLEGAL INVESTMENT

SCAM TYPE 4: E-Commerce SCAM

4.1 E-Commerce Scam (Shopee/Lazada)

4.2 E-Commerce Scam (Carousell)

SCAM TYPE 5: JOB SCAM

SCAM TYPE 6: LOVE SCAM

SCAM TYPE 7: ROAD SCAM

7.1 Road Scam (Oil and Smoke scam)

7.2 Road Scam (Tow Truck scam)

SCAM TYPE 8: CHARITY SCAM

SCAM TYPE 9: SCRATCH & WIN (used to be rampant but may make a comeback )

SCAM TYPE 10: HAJJ/UMRAH PACKAGE SCAM

OTHER SCAMS:

When did Olivia Newton-John become a Dame?

email by from a student loan service about phishing awareness and it has link spoofing to a mail-chimp list

PSA: Common scams, their modus operandi and tips on avoiding scams

​ IMPORTANT!!

General guideline if you have been scammed (Source: BNM)

Who to report to:

IMPORTANT!!