Scam Victims are not alone. There are a quite a few resources out there that can and will help you find your way through the maze of twists and turns that quite often the scammers wants to lead you through. Understanding what they are trying to do to you is half the battle won.
Internet scammers are working on new ways to defraud and scam you right now! Internet scams are constantly evolving. As we gain new online services and technology, scammers develop new versions of scams to exploit them. Keeping up with these scam trends is the best way to protect yourself.
Websites like Anti Fraud News provide articles on these latest trends so that you can educate yourself, and will be able to recognize the scams that might be aimed in your direction.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns people of many internet scams on their website, and lists the following scams as some of the common Internet fraud scams:
Nigerian Letter or “419” Fraud – This type of fraud starts when you receive an email from someone claiming to need help with a large fund of money. These scams often originate in Nigeria. The supposed fund may be an inheritance or unclaimed fund with a bank. You’re needed to be “named as beneficiary” and asked to send some money to cover legal or processing fees, with a promise of a chunk of the millions in return. This type of scam is also referred to as advance fee fraud because there are always fees to be paid in advance of receiving any payout. In reality, the fund doesn’t exist and any money you send will be gone into the pocket of a scammer. One tip offered for avoiding this type of scam is to always be wary of emails asking for your help with a large fund, and to never send money to someone who wants to conduct this sort of business over the internet.
Credit Card Fraud – This scam is when someone obtains your credit card information, usually via phishing. Tips for avoiding credit card fraud include only using your credit card number online if the website is secure and reputable. Also, make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable online source by researching the individual or company to ensure they are legitimate. There are many tips to avoid phishing available online.
Auction Site Fraud – This scam is when a fictitious advertisement is placed through an internet auction site, or when you receive a scam offer for the item you advertised. Both versions of the scam involve fraudulent payments, or fraudulent “over-payments”. A tip to avoid this type of scam is to never accept an overpayment, and never make a payment via Western Union or other untraceable means.
The FBI also points out that a favorite target of Internet scammers is often senior citizens, as con artists know that the older generation was generally raised to be polite and trusting, and can be exploited. That is why it is so important for your family, including your parents and grandparents, to know about the scams that are out there and to know what to do when they find themselves a victim, or a potential victim, of a scam.
Here at Anti Fraud News we will keep you on top of news about internet scams, and offer you tips to avoid becoming a victim. Knowledge is power. The more you know about Internet scams, the better the chance of you not becoming a victim.