Scams and Cons

When natural disasters strike it can bring out the scam artists who try to steal donations from well-meaning people wanting to help.

Car cloning is the practice of using a Vehicle Identification Number from a legal vehicle on a stolen car so that it can be registered and sold.

Some email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-box. The following facts will help protect you from becoming a victim of email scams.

Beware of emails touting investments that promise high rates of return with little or no risk.

Promises of easy solutions to wiping out your debt could result in you losing your home. Learn to read between the lines.

Beware of lenders that "guarantee" a card or loan before you apply.

Beware of scams commonly used at online auctions.

Generally speaking, a cure all is a cure none. Beware of emails claiming miracle cures.

Beware of emails announcing you as the winner of a foreign lottery.

Looking for the perfect easy solution to losing weight? If so, you could be opening yourself up to being scammed.

Beware of advertisers that promise steady income for minimal labor.

Phishing is a scam where Internet fraudsters send spam or pop-up messages to reel in personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.

Along with the recent problems in the nation's mortgage lending industry and an increase in home foreclosures, has also come an increase in mortgage fraud schemes, aimed at taking advantage of those who may be having financial difficulties.

The FBI has launched a tip line, 1-800-CALL FBI or 1-800-225-5324 , to collect information and complaints of public corruption and government fraud, in connection with the Hurricane Katrina aftermath.

Natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, can bring out the best in people, but unfortunately can bring out the worse, including those who would scam those wanting to donate to aid victims.

Consider this scenario: You’re stuck in heavy traffic on a busy highway. Another car cuts off the driver in front of you, forcing him to slam on the brakes. You try to stop, but there’s no time...and you rear-end the guy in front of you. An everyday accident? Not this time. Turns out you’ve been had by a well-organized criminal ring that staged...

The FBI has alerted the public to a variety of scams currently being facilitated online involving the solicitation of additional relief funds for the victims of the recent Tsunami disaster.

The FBI offers these tips to avoid international mass-marketing frauds, such as the Nigerian and other foreign goverment scams.

Using FBI letterhead and the identities of FBI officials as part of a mass marketing fraud scheme, these letters appear to come from one or more non-existing entities and is entitled 'Memo on Debt Payment.'

A Virginia jury has recommended a nine-year sentence for a North Carolina man, who along with his sister, became the first people convicted under the state's new anti-spam laws based on falsifying information to mask the sender's identity.

Advance-Fee Fraud Schemes - A common technique used by online fraudsters.

Internet Fraud: Check out "help-wanted" ads before you submit your personal information. Here is why..

Internet Fraud: A counterfeit or fraudulent cashier’s check or corporate check is utilized to pay for merchandise. Here is how they do it..

Internet Fraud: The FBI has become aware of an email hoax with the subject line "FBI Investigation" and implying the email originated from the FBI.

The Nigerian advance-fee fraud has been around for decades, but now seems to have reached epidemic proportions via the Internet, and many compassionate consumers are continuing to take the bait.

Internet fraud report: fraudsters take advantage of the Telecommunications Relay Services.

Internet scam artists use phony escrow services to steal. See how they do it.

Internet Fraud: Pyramid schemes, they promise millions but deliver nothing. Find out how this scam works.

Another scam using spam e-mail designed to harvest debit or credit card information.

Promoters make overblown promises about the income or profit potential for consumers working at home clipping coupons.

Con artists have gone high-tech, using the Internet to defraud consumers in a variety of clever ways. Here is a list of scams, reported to the FTC, that consumers complain about the most.

Hints and tips for detecting false information in forwarded emails.

Authorities warn senior citizens to beware of any attempts by people to charge fees or solicit personal information pursuant to filing "slave reparations" tax claims.

Scams targeted at military members seem to be a consistent problem. This article looks into the reasons why and what military members can do to avoid becoming victims.

Learning the language of day trading can help you separate fact from fantasy when reading an ad or listening to a commercial.

It's true that some successful models have been discovered in everyday places like malls, boutiques, clubs, and airports. But the vast majority of would-be models knock on door after agency door before work comes their way.

This alert tells you how to spot different types of Internet fraud, what the Securities and Exchange Commission is doing to fight Internet investment scams, and how to use the Internet to invest wisely.

The FBI and other agencies involved in cybercrime targeted investment scams, sales of stolen software, online banking fraud, illegal pharmaceuticals, and even a Russian marriage service in a 5-month crackdown on Internet crime.