There are thousands of people at this very moment at risk of being tricked into handing over their personal information, such as their Social Security number, over the Internet. Awareness is the key. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center, a government agency, wants you to be aware of the top online scams, so that you don’t become a victim of fraud or identity theft:
- Online Auction Scam: Shoppers purchase something online, send the person or group money for the item and get nothing in return. Or, the product is a fake instead of the genuine brand name item. Buying merchandise online through auctions is a risk you may not want to take.
- Nigerian Letter Scam: The warning light should go off when you see an e-mail begin in all caps, such as DEAR SIR / MADAM. The e-mail says a minister of something for an African country needs your help. He wants you to help him get millions of dollars out of the United States and he will give you a share of the money if you help pay for his legal fees and other expenses. It’s amazing how many people fall for this scam.
- Re-shipping Scam: An offshore company needs your U.S. address and bank account information and you oblige. You receive the goods and reship them to another country. Money is wired into your account. With this scam you are taking a huge risk, because you might be arrested for dealing in stolen merchandise or even receiving or sending packages containing stolen drugs.
- Congratulations. You’re the winner of a scam. The e-mail states that you’ve won a prize, perhaps a television or a car. You are asked to complete a form and return it via-e-mail so that you may claim your prize. There may even be certain fees that you need to pay. You may soon see mysterious charges on your credit card statements.
If you fall victim to fraud or identity theft, you should immediately contact the police. It’s also a good idea to report the crime to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center’s website, www.ic3.gov.
