(1/19/2012) Erate Exclusive - If you've resolved to better keep tabs on
your finances this year, be wary of scams designed to make you break that
resolution.
While you are at it, to be forewarned of what else is coming down the
pike to con you, plug into the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) scam alert
system.
BBBs Scam
Source offers a host of resources, tips, alerts and other information to
protect you from come-ons out to get you.
Especially be on the lookout for what BBB calls The Top Scams of 2011.
Operators of these scams are still skulking, trying to catch you napping.
Top Financial Scam - Mortgage Relief
Due to the housing crisis, the federal government announced or expanded
several mortgage relief programs in recent years. Just like web sites that
mimic the federal free credit report web site, numerous web sites pretend to
be "official" or "government" mortgage relief web sites. They may sound like
a government agency or pretend to align themselves with an official
non-profit group. Consider it a red flag when they ask you for money
upfront. If you bite you'll almost always end up in more debt than when you
hired them.
Top Identity Theft Scam - Late Night Hotel Computer Crash
Hotels are posting warnings about this act of fraud.
Someone calls you late at night in your hotel room. It's the front desk, the
computer has crashed and they need your credit card number right away
because your transaction won't go through. The grifter is counting on you
being too sleepy to catch on. It's someone from outside who knows the
direct-dial phone number for the guest rooms. If you don't wake up, by the
time you do, your credit card has been out on the town.
Top Check Cashing Scam - CraigsList/Western Union
Someone contacts you via a real CraigsList posting you made. They send you a check for
more than the amount owed and ask you to deposit it into your bank account
and then send them the difference via Western Union. The wired money is
gone, the deposited check takes a couple of days to clear and you are out
the difference, including any check bouncing or over draft fees caused by
the bad check.
Top Home Improvement Scam - Gypsy Contractors
Unsolicited, they knock on your door. It's a roofer who spots missing
shingles, a paver with asphalt to spare from the last job, or some other
ruse. They often move in after a disaster and turn your home into one before
they are gone and you've paid them for shoddy work. Avoid unsolicited
salespeople. Hire licensed contractors.
Top Sales Scam - Penny Auctions
Internet penny auctions are very popular because it seems like you can
get something useful - cameras, computers, etc. -- for next to nothing. You
pay a small fee for each bid say, 50 cents to $1 and if you aren't the
winner, you lose the bid money. Winners often are not even the top bidder,
but the last bidder when time runs out. Not all penny auction sites are
scams, but some are being investigated as online gambling. BBB says treat
online penny auctions as you would legal gambling in a casino -- know the
house rules, set a limit and be prepared to walk away, before you exceed
your limit.
Top Job Scam - ID Theft Job Offers
Among the hose of secret shopper schemes, work-from-home scams, and other
phony job offers, the worst is designed to steal your personal information.
Emails, websites and online applications all look very professional. You may
even be interviewed for the "job" and get an offer. However, before you can
begin work you have to complete a credit report, provide bank information
for direct deposit of their paychecks or otherwise divulge personal and
financial information. And you don't really get the job.
Top Sweepstakes and Lottery Scam - Celebrity Sweepstakes
It's your lucky day. You've won a boat load of money and all you have to
do to collect is to send in a smaller amount of money. Just keep things
hush-hush until the sweepstakes is ready to announce that your ship has
finally come in. Last year, such a "sweepstakes" claimed to be from Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerberg. Do you remember entering the sweepstakes? That's a
big clue.
Scam of the Year - BBB Phishing
Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people received emails
appearing to be an official BBB notice. The subject line says "Complaint Against
Your
Business," and the email instructs you to click on a link or open an
attachment. Do so and you'll launch a malicious virus designed to steal
banking information, passwords and other information that can be used for
cyber theft. Don't click on links or open attachments in suspicious email.
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