How to Avoid Scams

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. With all the scams and fraud around, it can be hard to avoid enticing messages and offers to claim lottery winnings, inheritance, or make big bucks with a foreign lottery.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. First thing to do is ask yourself "Is this offer too good to be true?" well then it most likely is and you should ignore or report the message/offer/letter right away because it is probably a scam.

2. To help you identify whether you might be the target of a scam, examine the following list:
   
   *Were you promised a large amount of money in return for sending a wire transfer?
   
   *Are you required to wire funds to be deposited by someone you don't know?
   
   *Are you being instructed to wire money in order to claim lottery or prize winnings?
   
   *Are you being asked to wire money in response to a guaranteed credit card or loan offer?
   
   *Are you being instructed to send money to claim an inheritance?
   
   *Are you wiring money in response to an internet or phone offer?
   
   *Are you required to send money to someone you don't know?
   
   *Are you supposed to send money to participate in a foreign lottery?

3. If you answered yes to any of the above questions and proceed, you are taking part in a high risk transaction that is most likely a scam or case of fraud. If you decide to take your chances, you will not be able to recover the money you send and the bank will hold you responsible for any overdrafts to your account.

4. Always check out any company that you will be dealing with financially with the Better Business Bureau.
   You can also check the Scam Busters website to see if something you have received has been reported as a scam.

Tips & Warnings

• Always review your credit card statements. There are scam companies that will only charge a small amount to your credit card each month using random company names, hoping you won't notice. It may be a charge of $14.95 and you might think it was something you bought. Once they get away with the small charges, they will start making larger charges to your credit card like $67.95 and so forth. Always pay attention to what you buy and where you shop so you can identify and report it to your credit card company.
• If you receive messages that sound like a scam on eHow, report it to Rich and he will have the user removed.
• Always take precautions to protect your financial information and identity.
• No matter how bad you wish the offer was real because you need money, don't take the risk keeping your fingers crossed that you won't get ripped off. It's not worth it!

Resources

• BBB Avoiding Investment Scams
• Scam.com
• Scam Busters
• Hot Scams

[joyful327]

on 4/13/2008 Excellent article. I was scammed on ebay once, ugh.

[juliesam3]

on 4/12/2008 Thanks for the article. Everyone does need to be aware about who they deal with on the internet. People are not always who they say they are.

[Diablo2]

on 4/6/2008 Very good. Also check on the little things like grammar and professionalism. DO they offer a website? how legit is it? Thanks for the article, Love them all :)