Avoiding Scams
International scam artists use clever schemes to defraud millions of people
around the globe each year, threatening financial security and generating
substantial profits for criminal organizations and common crooks. Being on guard
online can help you maximize the benefits of e-commerce and minimize your chance
of being defrauded. Here are ten tips to help you avoid common online scams:
- Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. That
includes an online merchant you’ve never heard of — or an online love
interest who asks for money or favors. It’s best to do business with sites
you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider a
payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don’t send cash
or use a wire transfer service. And don’t pay upfront fees for the promise
of a big pay-off — whether it’s a loan, a job, or prize money.
- Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or
financial information, whether the message comes as an email, a phone call,
a text message, or an ad. Don’t
click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. The
crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into sending money and
revealing your bank account information. If you get a message and are
concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit
card — or your statement — and check it out.
- Don’t play a foreign lottery. First,
it’s easy to be tempted by messages that boast enticing odds in a foreign
lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won. Inevitably, you’ll be
asked to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If
you send money, you won’t get it back, regardless of the promises. Second,
it’s illegal to play foreign lotteries.
- Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s
gone, you can’t get it back. Con
artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because
it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t
wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for
payment, or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and
wants to keep the request a secret).
- Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and
then wire money back, no matter how convincing the story. By
law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but
uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You are responsible for the checks
you deposit: When a check turns out to be a fake, you’ll be responsible for
paying back the bank.
- Read your bills and monthly statements regularly—on paper and
online. Scammers steal
account information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name.
Dishonest merchants sometimes bill you for monthly “membership fees” and
other goods or services you didn’t authorize. If you see charges you don’t
recognize or didn’t okay, contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor
immediately.
- In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to
established charities rather than ones that seem to have sprung up
overnight. Pop-up charities probably don’t have the infrastructure
to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting
the money to finance illegal activity. Check out ftc.gov/charityfraud to
learn more.
- Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up
for medical treatments. Ask
about research that supports a product’s claims — and possible risks or side
effects. Buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. pharmacies.
Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired or
mislabeled — in short, products that could be dangerous. Visit ftc.gov/health for
more information.
- Remember there’s no such thing as a sure thing. If
someone contacts you promoting low-risk, high-return investment
opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now,
guarantees of big profits, promises of little or no financial risk, or
demands that you send cash immediately, report them at ftc.gov.
- Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with. Try
to find a seller’s physical address (not just a P.O. Box) and phone number.
With VoIP and other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell where someone
is calling from. Do an internet search for the company name and website and
look for negative reviews. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.
10 Scams to Screen from Your Email
While some consumers find unsolicited commercial email – also known as "spam"
– informative, others find it annoying and time consuming. Still others find it
expensive: They're among the people who have lost money to spam that contained
bogus offers and fraudulent promotions.
Many Internet Service Providers and computer operating systems offer
filtering software to limit the spam in their users' email inboxes. In addition,
some old-fashioned 'filter tips' can help you save time and money by avoiding
frauds pitched in email. OnGuard Online wants computer users to screen spam for
scams, send unwanted spam on to the appropriate enforcement authorities, and
then hit delete. Here's how to spot 10 common spam scams:
1. The "Nigerian" Email Scam
The Bait: Con artists claim to be officials, businesspeople,
or the surviving spouses of former government honchos in Nigeria or another
country whose money is somehow tied up for a limited time. They offer to
transfer lots of money into your bank account if you will pay a fee or "taxes"
to help them access their money. If you respond to the initial offer, you may
receive documents that look "official." Then they ask you to send money to cover
transaction and transfer costs and attorney's fees, as well as blank letterhead,
your bank account numbers, or other information. They may even encourage you to
travel to the country in question, or a neighboring country, to complete the
transaction. Some fraudsters have even produced trunks of dyed or stamped money
to try to verify their claims.
The Catch: The emails are from crooks trying to steal your
money or your identity. Inevitably, in this scenario, emergencies come up,
requiring more of your money and delaying the "transfer" of funds to your
account. In the end, there aren't any profits for you, and the scam artist
vanishes with your money. The harm sometimes can be felt even beyond your
pocketbook: according to State Department reports, people who have responded to
"pay in advance " solicitations have been beaten, subjected to threats and
extortion, and in some cases, murdered.
Your Safety Net: If you receive an email from someone
claiming to need your help getting money out of a foreign country, don't
respond. Forward "Nigerian" scams – including all the email addressing
information – to spam@uce.gov.
If you've lost money to one of these schemes, call your local Secret Service
field office. Local field offices are listed in the Blue Pages of your telephone
directory.
2. Phishing
The Bait: Email or pop-up messages that claim to be from a
business or organization you may deal with – say, an Internet Service Provider
(ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message
may ask you to "update," "validate," or "confirm" your account information or
face dire consequences.
The Catch: Phishing is a scam where internet fraudsters send
spam or pop-up messages to reel in personal and financial information from
unsuspecting victims. The messages direct you to a website that looks just like
a legitimate organization's site, or to a phone number purporting to be real.
But these are bogus and exist simply to trick you into divulging your personal
information so the operators can steal it, fake your identity, and run up bills
or commit crimes in your name.
Your Safety Net: Make it a policy never to respond to emails
or pop-ups that ask for your personal or financial information, click on links
in the message, or call phone numbers given in the message. Don't cut and paste
a link from the message into your Web browser, either: phishers can make links
look like they go one place, but then actually take you to a look-alike site. If
you are concerned about your account, contact the organization using a phone
number you know to be genuine, or open a new internet browser session and type
in the company's correct Web address yourself. Using anti-virus and anti-spyware
software and a firewall, and keeping them up to date, can help.
Forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov and
to the organization that is being spoofed.
3. Work-at-Home Scams
The Bait: Advertisements that promise steady income for minimal
labor – in medical claims processing, envelope-stuffing, craft assembly work, or
other jobs. The ads use similar come-ons: Fast cash. Minimal work. No risk. And
the advantage of working from home when it's convenient for you.
The Catch: The ads don't say you may have to work many hours
without pay, or pay hidden costs to place newspaper ads, make photocopies, or
buy supplies, software, or equipment to do the job. Once you put in your own
time and money, you're likely to find promoters who refuse to pay you, claiming
that your work isn't up to their "quality standards."
Your Safety Net: The FTC has yet to find anyone who has
gotten rich stuffing envelopes or assembling magnets at home. Legitimate
work-at-home business promoters should tell you – in writing – exactly what's
involved in the program they're selling. Before you commit any money, find out
what tasks you will have to perform, whether you will be paid a salary or work
on commission, who will pay you, when you will get your first paycheck, the
total cost of the program – including supplies, equipment and membership fees –
and what you will get for your money. Can you verify information from current
workers? Be aware of "shills," people who are paid to lie and give you every
reason to pay for work. Get professional advice from a lawyer, an accountant, a
financial advisor, or another expert if you need it, and check out the company
with your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General and the
Better Business Bureau – not only where the company is located, but also where
you live.
Forward work-at-home scams to spam@uce.gov.
4. Weight Loss Claims
The Bait: Emails promising a revolutionary pill, patch,
cream, or other product that will result in weight loss without diet or
exercise. Some products claim to block the absorption of fat, carbs, or
calories; others guarantee permanent weight loss; still others suggest you'll
lose lots of weight at lightning speed.
The Catch: These are gimmicks, playing on your sense of
hopefulness. There's nothing available through email you can wear or apply to
your skin that can cause permanent, or even significant weight loss.
Your Safety Net: Experts agree that the best way to lose
weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity so you burn
more energy. A reasonable goal is to lose about a pound a week. For most people,
that means cutting about 500 calories a day from your diet, eating a variety of
nutritious foods, and exercising regularly. Permanent weight loss happens with
permanent lifestyle changes. Talk to your health care provider about a nutrition
and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.
Forward weight loss emails to spam@uce.gov.
5. Foreign Lotteries
The Bait: Emails boasting enticing odds in foreign
lotteries. You may even get a message claiming you've already won! You just have
to pay to get your prize or collect your winnings.
The Catch: Most promotions for foreign lotteries are phony.
The scammers will ask you to pay "taxes," "customs duties," or "fees" – and then
keep any money you send. Scammers sometimes ask you to send funds via wire
transfer. Don't send cash or use a money-wiring service because you'll have no
recourse if something goes wrong. In addition, lottery hustlers use victims'
bank account numbers to make unauthorized withdrawals or their credit card
numbers to run up additional charges. And one last important note: participating
in a foreign lottery violates U.S. law.
Your Safety Net: Skip these offers. Don't send money now on
the promise of a pay-off later.
Forward solicitations for foreign lottery promotions to spam@uce.gov.
6. Cure-All Products
The Bait: Emails claiming that a product is a "miracle cure," a
"scientific breakthrough," an "ancient remedy," or a quick and effective cure
for a wide variety of ailments or diseases. They generally announce limited
availability, and require payment in advance, and offer a no-risk "money-back
guarantee." Case histories or testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming
amazing results are not uncommon.
The Catch: There is no product or dietary supplement
available via email that can make good on its claims to shrink tumors, cure
insomnia, cure impotency, enlarge body parts, treat Alzheimer's disease, or
prevent severe memory loss. These kinds of claims deal with the treatment of
diseases; companies that want to make claims like these must follow the FDA's
pre-market testing and review process required for new drugs.
Your Safety Net: When evaluating health-related claims, be
skeptical. Consult a health care professional before buying any "cure-all" that
claims to treat a wide range of ailments or offers quick cures and easy
solutions to serious illnesses. Generally speaking, a cure all is a cure none.
Forward spam with miracle health claims to spam@uce.gov.
7. Check Overpayment Scams
The Bait: A response to your ad or online auction posting,
offering to pay with a cashier's, personal, or corporate check. At the last
minute, the so-called buyer (or the buyer's "agent") comes up with a reason for
writing the check for more than the purchase price, and asks you to wire back
the difference after you deposit the check.
The Catch: If you deposit the check, you lose. Typically,
the checks are counterfeit, but they're good enough to fool unsuspecting bank
tellers and increase the balance in your bank account – temporarily. But when
the check eventually bounces, you are liable for the entire amount.
Your Safety Net: Don't accept a check for more than your
selling price, no matter how tempting the plea or convincing the story. Ask the
buyer to write the check for the purchase price. If the buyer sends the
incorrect amount, return the check. Don't send the merchandise. As a seller who
accepts payment by check, you may ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a
bank with a local branch. That way, you can visit personally to make sure the
check is valid. If that's not possible, call the bank the check was drawn on
using the phone number from directory assistance or an internet site that you
know and trust, not from the person who gave you the check. Ask if the check is
valid.
Forward check overpayment scams to spam@uce.gov and
your state Attorney General. You can find contact information for your state
Attorney General at www.naag.org.
8. Pay-in-Advance Credit Offers
The Bait: News that you've been "pre-qualified" to get a
low-interest loan or credit card, or repair your bad credit even though banks
have turned you down. But to take advantage of the offer, you have to ante up a
processing fee of several hundred dollars.
The Catch: A legitimate pre-qualified offer means you've
been selected to apply. You still have to complete an application and you can
still be turned down. If you paid a fee in advance for the promise of a loan or
credit card, you've been hustled. You might get a list of lenders, but there's
no loan, and the person you've paid has taken your money and run.
Your Safety Net: Don't pay for a promise. Legitimate lenders
never "guarantee" a card or loan before you apply. They may require that you pay
application, appraisal, or credit report fees, but these fees seldom are
required before the lender is identified and the application is completed. In
addition, the fees generally are paid to the lender, not to the broker or person
who arranged the "guaranteed" loan. Forward unsolicited email containing credit
offers to spam@uce.gov.
9. Debt Relief
The Bait: Emails touting a way you can consolidate your
bills into one monthly payment without borrowing; stop credit harassment,
foreclosures, repossessions, tax levies and garnishments; or wipe out your
debts.
The Catch: These offers often involve bankruptcy
proceedings, but they rarely say so. While bankruptcy is one way to deal with
serious financial problems, it's generally considered the option of last resort.
The reason — it has a long-term negative impact on your creditworthiness. A
bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years, and can hurt your ability
to get credit, a job, insurance, or even a place to live. To top it off, you
will likely be responsible for attorneys' fees for bankruptcy proceedings.
Your Safety Net: Read between the lines when looking at
these emails. Before resorting to bankruptcy, talk with your creditors about
arranging a modified payment plan, contact a credit counseling service to help
you develop a debt repayment plan, or carefully consider a second mortgage or
home equity line of credit. One caution: While a home loan may allow you to
consolidate your debt, it also requires your home as collateral. If you can't
make the payments, you could lose your home.
Forward debt relief offers to spam@uce.gov.
10. Investment Schemes
The Bait: Emails touting "investments" that promise high
rates of return with little or no risk. One version seeks investors to help form
an offshore bank. Others are vague about the nature of the investment, but
stress the rates of return. Promoters hype their high-level financial
connections; the fact that they're privy to inside information; that they'll
guarantee the investment; or that they'll buy it back. To close the deal, they
often serve up phony statistics, misrepresent the significance of a current
event, or stress the unique quality of their offering. And they'll almost always
try to rush you into a decision.
The Catch: Many unsolicited schemes are a good investment
for the promoters, but not for participants. Promoters of fraudulent investments
operate a particular scam for a short time, close down before they can be
detected, and quickly spend the money they take in. Often, they reopen under
another name, selling another investment scam.
Your Safety Net: Take your time in evaluating the legitimacy
of an offer: The higher the promised return, the higher the risk. Don't let a
promoter pressure you into committing to an investment before you are certain
it's legitimate. Hire your own attorney or an accountant to take a look at any
investment offer, too.
Forward spam with investment-related schemes to spam@uce.gov.
Fighting Back
Con artists are clever and cunning, constantly hatching new variations on
age-old scams. Still, skeptical consumers can spot questionable or unsavory
promotions in email offers. Should you receive an email that you think may be
fraudulent, forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov,
hit delete, and smile. You'll be doing your part to help put a scam artist out
of work.
How to Report Spam
If you receive an email that you think may be a scam:
- Forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and
to the abuse desk of the sender's ISP.
- Also, if the email appears to be impersonating a bank or other company
or organization, forward the message to the actual organization.
If you think you may have responded to an email that may be a scam:
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint.
- Report it to your state Attorney General, using contact information at naag.org.
- Then visit the FTC's identity theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft.
While you can't completely control whether you will become a victim of
identity theft, you can take some steps to minimize your risk.
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