Beware
of Scams/Schemes/Frauds
To help protect Americans from losing their hard-earned
money to scams, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
today announced a list of the most common financial
schemes along with tips on how to avoid becoming a
victim of fraudulent activities.
"FBI
Agents around the country are investigating thousands
of money-making scams every day," said Grant
Ashley, Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative
Division. "We want the public to be aware of
the many types of scams and how they can be prevented."
Fraudulent
activity costs citizens billions of dollars every
year and criminals are continually seeking new ways
to get their hands on other people's money. There
are numerous illegal activities to watch for, including
Identity Theft, Bank Fraud, Health Care Fraud, Nigerian
Scams, Advance Fee Schemes, Telemarketing Fraud and
Securities/Commodities Fraud.
A
few simple precautions can help reduce opportunities
for scam artists. They include the following:
- Protect
personal information
- Do
not give out bank account, social security and credit
card numbers to strangers
- Store
personal information in a safe place
- Shred
all credit card receipts and old financial statements
- Protect
PIN numbers and passwords
- Carry
a minimum amount of identifying information
- Beware
of unsolicited e-mail and Internet sites that ask
for personal data
- Do
not wire money to strangers
"Fraud
can happen anywhere," said Ashley. "On the
street, at your front door, on the telephone or on
the computer. The best thing individuals can do is
be aware. If a deal looks like it's too good to be
true -- it probably is."
To
report fraudulent activity or financial scams, contact
the nearest FBI office or police department.
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