<p> ;</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/identity-theft-most-common-fraud-complaint-received/"><b>Tips for Avoiding Internet Auction Fraud</b><b>:</b></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<figure id="attachment_16793" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16793" style="width: 336px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/internet-fraud-tips-and-descriptions-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-15465"><img class="wp-image-16793" src="https://www.fraudswatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Internet-Fraud-Tips-And-Descriptions-1.jpg" alt="Internet Fraud - Tips And Descriptions" width="336" height="215" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16793" class="wp-caption-text"><em><strong><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/internet-fraud-tips-and-descriptions/"><i>Internet Fraud</i></a> &#8211; Tips And Descriptions</strong></em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Understand as much as possible about how the auction works, what your obligations are as a buyer, and what the seller’s obligations are before you bid.</li>
<li>Find out what actions the website/company takes if a problem occurs and consider insuring the transaction and shipment.</li>
<li>Learn as much as possible about the seller, especially if the only information you have is an e-mail address. If it is a business, check the Better Business Bureau where the seller/business is located.</li>
<li>Examine the feedback on the seller.</li>
<li>Determine what method of payment the seller is asking from the buyer and where he/she is asking to send payment.</li>
<li>If possible, purchase items online using your credit card, because you can often dispute the charges if something goes wrong.</li>
<li>Be cautious when dealing with sellers outside the United States. If a problem occurs with the auction transaction, it could be much more difficult to rectify.</li>
<li>Ask the seller about when delivery can be expected and whether the merchandise is covered by a warranty or can be exchanged if there is a problem.</li>
<li>Make sure there are no unexpected costs, including whether shipping and handling is included in the auction price.</li>
<li>There should be no reason to give out your social security number or driver’s license number to the seller.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/fraud-online-shopping-sites/"><b>Tips for Avoiding Non-Delivery of Merchandise</b><b>:</b></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.</li>
<li>Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.</li>
<li>Obtain a physical address rather than simply a post office box and a telephone number, and call the seller to see if the telephone number is correct and working.</li>
<li>Send an e-mail to the seller to make sure the e-mail address is active, and be wary of those that utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.</li>
<li>Consider not purchasing from sellers who won’t provide you with this type of information.</li>
<li>Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.</li>
<li>Check out other websites regarding this person/company.</li>
<li>Don’t judge a person or company by their website. Flashy websites can be set up quickly.</li>
<li>Be cautious when responding to special investment offers, especially through unsolicited e-mail.</li>
<li>Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.</li>
<li>Inquire about returns and warranties.</li>
<li>If possible, purchase items online using your credit card, because you can often dispute the charges if something goes wrong.</li>
<li>Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.</li>
<li>Consider using an escrow or alternate payment service.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/credit-card-fraud-how-to-prevent/"><b>Tips for Avoiding Credit Card Fraud</b><b>:</b></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Don’t give out your credit card number online unless the site is a secure and reputable. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but provides some assurance.</li>
<li>Don’t trust a site just because it claims to be secure.</li>
<li>Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.</li>
<li>Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.</li>
<li>Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.</li>
<li>Obtain a physical address rather than simply a post office box and a telephone number, and call the seller to see if the telephone number is correct and working.</li>
<li>Send an e-mail to the seller to make sure the e-mail address is active, and be wary of those that utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.</li>
<li>Consider not purchasing from sellers who won’t provide you with this type of information.</li>
<li>Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.</li>
<li>Check out other websites regarding this person/company.</li>
<li>Don’t judge a person or company by their website. Flashy websites can be set up quickly.</li>
<li>Be cautious when responding to special investment offers, especially through unsolicited e-mail.</li>
<li>Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.</li>
<li>If possible, purchase items online using your credit card, because you can often dispute the charges if something goes wrong.</li>
<li>Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card number.</li>
<li>Keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s), contact the card issuer immediately.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/financial-scams-most-common-ways/"><b>Tips for Avoiding Investment Fraud</b><b>:</b></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Don’t judge a person or company by their website. Flashy websites can be set up quickly.</li>
<li>Don’t invest in anything you are not absolutely sure about. Do your homework on the investment and the company to ensure that they are legitimate.</li>
<li>Check out other websites regarding this person/company.</li>
<li>Be cautious when responding to special investment offers, especially through unsolicited e-mail.</li>
<li>Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.</li>
<li>Inquire about all the terms and conditions.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/online-business-frauds-avoid-recognize/"><b>Tips for Avoiding Business Fraud</b><b>:</b></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Purchase merchandise from reputable dealers or establishments.</li>
<li>Obtain a physical address rather than simply a post office box and a telephone number, and call the seller to see if the telephone number is correct and working.</li>
<li>Send an e-mail to the seller to make sure the e-mail address is active, and be wary of those that utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.</li>
<li>Consider not purchasing from sellers who won’t provide you with this type of information.</li>
<li>Purchase merchandise directly from the individual/company that holds the trademark, copyright, or patent.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/category/nigerian-419/"><b>Tips for Avoiding the Nigerian Letter or “419” Fraud</b><b>:</b></a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.</li>
<li>Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.</li>
<li>Guard your account information carefully.</li>
</ul>
<p><em><strong>Listed below are tips to protect yourself and your family from various forms of <a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/internet-fraud-tips-and-descriptions/"><i>Internet fraud</i></a>.</strong></em></p>
<p>For information on the most common complaints and scams, see the <a title="http://www.ic3.gov/media/annualreports.aspx" href="http://www.ic3.gov/media/annualreports.aspx">annual reports</a> of the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, a partnership of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. Also see its information on <a title="http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx" href="http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx">Internet Crime Schemes</a> and its <a title="http://www.ic3.gov/preventiontips.aspx" href="http://www.ic3.gov/preventiontips.aspx">Internet Crime Prevention Tips</a>.</p>
<p>Use our <a class="external-link" href="https://tips.fbi.gov/">online tips form</a> or the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx">IC3 website</a> to report potential cases of cyber fraud.</p>

Tag Archives: “419” Fraud
Most Popular Fraud Schemes

<p><span class="blackgraphtx">The following are some of the most common scams that the FBI investigates and tips to help prevent you from being victimized. Visit our <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/white_collar">White-Collar Crime</a> and <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/cyber">Cyber</a> webpages for more fraud schemes.</span></p>



<p><span class="blackgraphtx">To report cases of fraud, use our <a class="external-link" href="https://tips.fbi.gov/">online tips form</a> or contact your <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field">nearest FBI office</a> or <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/legat">overseas office</a>.</span></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="blackgraphtx"><strong>Telemarketing Fraud</strong></span></h2>



<p>When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.</p>



<p>Here are some warning signs of telemarketing fraud—what a caller may tell you:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>“You must act ‘now’ or the offer won’t be good.”</li>



<li>“You’ve won a ‘free’ gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.</li>



<li>“You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.</li>



<li>“You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.</li>



<li>“You don’t need any written information about their company or their references.”</li>



<li>“You can’t afford to miss this ‘high-profit, no-risk’ offer.”</li>
</ul>



<p>If you hear these or similar “lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say “no thank you” and hang up the telephone.</p>



<p><strong>Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:</strong></p>



<p>It’s very difficult to get your money back if you’ve been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose <a class="wpil_keyword_link" title="financial" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked" data-wpil-monitor-id="492" href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/tag/financial-fraud/">financial</a> advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Don’t pay for a “free prize.” If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of financial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.</span></li>



<li><span class="blackgraphtx">If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.</span></li>
</ul>



<p><span class="blackgraphtx"><strong>For More information: </strong><br>&#8211; <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/seniors/seniors#atf">Telemarketing Fraud Targeting Seniors</a></span><br></p>