Outsmart Scammers category archive

Outsmart Scammers: Work At Home Schemes

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 »

Outsmart Scammers: Recognizing A Fake Check

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a check or money order looks, even if you are able to cash it, you will be responsible for any funds deposited and withdrawn.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 »

Outsmart Scammers: Defend Yourself Against Jury Duty Scams

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 »

Outsmart Scammers: Be On Guard Against Identity Theft

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as many as 9 million Americans are victims of some form of identity theft every year. Whether conned into a phishing scam, visiting a malicious website, or having your mail stolen from your mailbox, there are hundreds of ways that lowlifes can take advantage of you and grab your personal information.

Criminals like AMW Fugitive Kurt Sohrbeck, a crook who cops say stole identities and thousands of dollars by making charges in other people’s names, are looking for ways to rob you of your identity, drain your bank account, and ruin your credit. Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Be On Guard Against Identity Theft »

Outsmart Scammers: Keep Online Auctions from Being a Scammer’s Paradise

More than a billion people use the Internet, making the web a very enticing place for con artists to strike. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center lists Internet auction fraud as the most-reported offense, comprising 44.9% of referred complaints in 2007.

In the comfort of your own home, shopping on auction sites offers a convenient way to uncover hard-to-find items, compare prices and score some great deals. But when it comes to using online auction sites, a little bit of research can go a long way to protecting yourself from a scammer. When shopping online, always make sure you are dealing with a secure website by checking that the site’s URL contains either https:// or shttp://. You should also check for the padlock icon at the bottom of your browser window Continue reading Outsmart Scammers: Keep Online Auctions from Being a Scammer’s Paradise »



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