According to the Federal Trade Comission, as many as 9 million Americans fall victim to some type of identity theft every year. Would you know what to do if you became a target?

Matthew Bowen, online expert for the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) offers some simple advice to help protect yourself online. Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Don’t Take The Bait With Phishing Scams »

Making extra cash from the comfort of your own home sounds like a pretty great deal, but it can be hard to tell which companies are legitimate. According to the Federal Trade Commission, over 2 million Americans fell victim to a work at home scheme last year. The are variations on these schemes, but they typically involve receiving packages, relabeling them and sending them out again. Even if you do receive money for postage and your time, these funds may be coming from stolen or counterfeit credit cards or checks.U.S. Postal Inspector Ken Jones offers us his best advice: only work for someone you know you can trust. You can easily do some background research on a company to find out if they are legitimate. Here are a few tips to avoid being roped into one of these scams Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Work At Home Schemes »

It seems like it would be great news if someone told you that you’d won a sweepstakes prize. But if you ever receive a check and the sender asks you to send them any money back, you are the target of fraud. According to the NCL, fake check schemes are the most commonly reported type of internet fraud. No matter how legit a check or money order looks, even if you are able to cash it, you will be responsible for any funds deposited and withdrawn. Unfortunately, by the time you realize it’s a scam, it’s usually too late. Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Recognizing A Fake Check »

One of the most important civic duties a citizen can perform is serving on a jury. But if you get a phone call from the court about jury duty, be aware that this could be a scam. According to the FBI, in many communities, a growing number of attempts are being made by scammers to trick you into giving your personal information over the phone. You might get a call warning you that you have missed jury duty, and that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Defend Yourself Against Jury Duty Scams »