Online Scams

Online scams target anyone with a computer, of any age, background or income level. Their goal is to steal your money or your identity. Every year more and more people are using the internet, and every year the scammers get more cunning and more sophisticated.

online scams

There are many types of scams from get rich quick schemes, advance fee fraud, fake lotteries, auction fraud, phishing scams, postal forwarding/reshipping scams, miracle health cures, work-at-home scams, romance scams, publishing scams, check overpayment scams, MLM scams and job scams.

As soon as one type of scam becomes well known, the scammers come up with a variant.

The way to avoid being scammed is through education. Keeping your knowledge up to date on the latest variations of scams, how they work and how to recognize them is vital in the war against scammers.

You can find further information here on online scams

Types of Online Scams

There are many types however the main ones include:

How to Avoid Online Scams

  • The Better Business Bureau and Federal Trade Commission offer more information about avoiding internet scams, and they also provide information on ways to verify offers and file complaints. Your state attorney general's office might also have specific or general information about Internet business opportunity scams and offer an avenue to file complaints
  • Carry out a web search using the name of the product or business along with the term 'scam' added on as well as going to the Consumeraffairs.com website and read if there are complaints against a company or website you are suspicious about
  • To avoid web scams, you may want to consider starting your own business, however if you don't know how, the U.S. Small Business Administration provides free information and resources for starting up a business from scratch. Additionally, the Business Resource offer loads of advice for starting a business, including a home-based business
  • If you have been the victim of a scam already, you can file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center


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