Report Internet Fraud

Have you been scammed? Don’t keep quiet about it, ashamed you fell for some con artist’s promise of a five-figure a month paycheck—and for just a negligible fee (to weed out the “tire kickers”) they’ll show you how to become rich.

You need to report these scam artists over and over again to law enforcement to prevent someone else, like you, from losing $39.95, $59.95, $99.00 and more.

You can sign up for free, timely alerts at the Consumer Protection Agency, for warnings about the latest cyber frauds.

Go to onguardonline.gov/certalerts.html

The Consumer Protection Agency also offers advice about how to protect your identity while you are online. I know this has become a concern of mine. As part of my research, I have used my credit card to pay for many of these bogus at-home-business plans.

Honestly, I have had only one problem getting my initial fee refunded, which has made me wonder: how are these scam artists making money? Are they counting on people not to demand a refund? Are they using “spyware” to download personal information from my computer to sell? Or are they using "malware" to get at my financial information?

There is no doubt they have placed cookies on my computer. Just visiting a couple of these sites generated a half-dozen or more “offers” to work at home. New come-ons arrive daily.

If you have been defrauded, follow this link to report it.

Go to ic3.gov/

Remember, internet fraud involves loss of money. Internet scams consist of false advertising or trickery to get money out of you. They usually come with a time-sensitive refund policy. Only if the advertiser fails to return your investment does the scam become a fraud.

Warning: some websites that invite you to report scams are actually just fronts for hucksters wanting to sell you their own get-rich-quick schemes. In response to your Google query, your search-words actually bring you to a website that pretends to expose current online scams. The website goes on to recommend money-making programs that are currently available and actually work. Their recommended proven money-makers are all businesses the so-called expert owns or is in partnership with. There is no guarantee any of their insider tips or schemes will make you money. If you investigate their offer, you are guaranteed of having to make more purchases from them to increase your chance of success.

In the event your personal information is stolen, Kroll's trained specialists do the work of restoring your good name for you.

Show me how to protect my personal information.

Identity Theft Shield plans

Report Phone Fraud

http://www.ftc.gov/phonefraud
and
http://www.youtube.com/ftcvideos.

Use these resources to help people in your community recognize telemarketing fraud and know where to report it.

When a telemarketer calls, ask:

Who’s calling - and why?

If telemarketers don’t tell you it’s a sales call, the name of the seller, and what they’re selling before they make their pitch, say “no thanks” and hang up.

What’s the hurry? Fast talkers who use high pressure tactics could be hiding something. Take your time.

If it’s free, why are they asking you to pay?

Free is free. If you have to pay, it’s not a prize or a gift. It’s a purchase.

Why are you being asked to “confirm” your account information – or giving it out at all?

Don’t give out your account information to anyone unless you know who you are talking to and what you are buying.

Get Listed on the National Do Not Call Registry

Putting your number on the Registry will stop most telemarketing calls – but not all.

Consumers can report phone fraud online at www.ftc.gov or by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP.

You can report violations of the National Do Not Call Registry online at DoNotCall.gov or by phone at 1-888-382-1222. It helps if you can supply the phone number or name of the company that called, and the date of the call.

Is my personal information really at risk?