This type of spam is frequently delivered as an email, requesting that a user pay a one-time price to obtain a service or receive a reward. The payment is frequently labeled a processing charge to give the person access to a certain benefit. Typically, these emails come from unknown sources or people posing as authorities, intending to gain people’s trust. The problem is that after the payments are made, the victim may never hear from such individuals again, and the money is lost. Spammers may continue to contact the victim regarding the process but to dupe the victim in the hopes of receiving a benefit or reward.
For example, an email may invite recipients to claim a free iPhone by only paying a shipping or processing cost to a specific organization or location. After this is completed, consumers will understand there was no free present, and the money is gone.
Because spammers will continue to attract people’s attention, the simplest method to avoid advance-fee scams is to avoid such deals and ignore emails containing enticing messages.