1. Investment Fraud:
Investment schemes promise outrageously high rates of return with no risk. One version seeks investors to help form an offshore bank. Others are vague about the nature of the investment, stressing the rates of return. Many are Ponzi schemes, in which early investors are paid off with money contributed by later investors. This makes the early investors believe that the system actually works, and encourages them to invest even more. You've probably gotten these. The subject line or first part of the email says that this is "Highly confidential information." This scam is based on touting "advance information" on specific stocks in an attempt to drive up the price past its true worth, so the promoters can sell at the higher price. They pump it up, and then dump it. Hence the name. This is generally illegal. And certainly a bad way to get investment advice... Ask yourself: If it's so confidential, why are they spamming it to millions of people? Promoters of fraudulent investments often operate a particular scam for a short time, quickly spend the money they take in, and then close down before they can be detected. Often, they reopen under another name, selling another investment scam. In their sales pitch, they'll say that they have high-level financial connections; that they're privy to inside information; that they'll guarantee the investment; or that they'll buy back the investment after a certain time. To close the deal, they often serve up phony statistics, misrepresent the significance of a current event, or stress the unique quality of their offering-anything to deter you from verifying their story. Ponzi schemes eventually collapse because there isn't enough money coming in to continue simulating earnings. Other schemes are a good investment for the promoters, but not for participants. To report any type of suspected e-mail fraud forward the entire e-mail to: FTC and/or Internet Fraud Watch E-Mail (NFIC) or Investment Fraud & Stock Offers - Securities and Exchange Commission Keep a copies of these e-mail addresses in your on-line address book!
Investment schemes promise outrageously high rates of return with no risk. One version seeks investors to help form an offshore bank. Others are vague about the nature of the investment, stressing the rates of return. Many are Ponzi schemes, in which early investors are paid off with money contributed by later investors. This makes the early investors believe that the system actually works, and encourages them to invest even more. You've probably gotten these. The subject line or first part of the email says that this is "Highly confidential information." This scam is based on touting "advance information" on specific stocks in an attempt to drive up the price past its true worth, so the promoters can sell at the higher price. They pump it up, and then dump it. Hence the name. This is generally illegal. And certainly a bad way to get investment advice... Ask yourself: If it's so confidential, why are they spamming it to millions of people? Promoters of fraudulent investments often operate a particular scam for a short time, quickly spend the money they take in, and then close down before they can be detected. Often, they reopen under another name, selling another investment scam. In their sales pitch, they'll say that they have high-level financial connections; that they're privy to inside information; that they'll guarantee the investment; or that they'll buy back the investment after a certain time. To close the deal, they often serve up phony statistics, misrepresent the significance of a current event, or stress the unique quality of their offering-anything to deter you from verifying their story. Ponzi schemes eventually collapse because there isn't enough money coming in to continue simulating earnings. Other schemes are a good investment for the promoters, but not for participants. To report any type of suspected e-mail fraud forward the entire e-mail to: FTC and/or Internet Fraud Watch E-Mail (NFIC) or Investment Fraud & Stock Offers - Securities and Exchange Commission Keep a copies of these e-mail addresses in your on-line address book!
16. World Trade Center Scams:
The spam’s relating to theWorld Trade Center United Way
The spam’s relating to the
17. Work-at-home schemes:
Envelope-stuffing and other work at home schemes and solicitations promise steady income for minimal labor-for example, you'll earn $2 each time you fold a brochure and seal it in an envelope. Craft assembly work schemes often require an investment of hundreds of dollars in equipment or supplies, and many hours of your time producing goods for a company that has promised to buy them. You'll pay a small fee to get started in the envelope-stuffing business. Then, you'll learn that the email sender never had real employment to offer. Instead, you'll get instructions on how to send the same envelope-stuffing ad in your own bulk emailing. If you earn any money, it will be from others who fall for the scheme you're perpetuating. And after spending the money and putting in the time on the craft assembly work, you are likely to find promoters who refuse to pay you, claiming that your work isn't up to their "quality standards."
Envelope-stuffing and other work at home schemes and solicitations promise steady income for minimal labor-for example, you'll earn $2 each time you fold a brochure and seal it in an envelope. Craft assembly work schemes often require an investment of hundreds of dollars in equipment or supplies, and many hours of your time producing goods for a company that has promised to buy them. You'll pay a small fee to get started in the envelope-stuffing business. Then, you'll learn that the email sender never had real employment to offer. Instead, you'll get instructions on how to send the same envelope-stuffing ad in your own bulk emailing. If you earn any money, it will be from others who fall for the scheme you're perpetuating. And after spending the money and putting in the time on the craft assembly work, you are likely to find promoters who refuse to pay you, claiming that your work isn't up to their "quality standards."
18. Effortless income & get rich quick schemes:
The trendiest get-rich-quick schemes offer unlimited profits exchanging money on world currency markets; newsletters describing a variety of easy-money opportunities; the perfect sales letter; and the secret to making $4,000 in one day. If these systems worked, wouldn't everyone be using them? The thought of easy money may be appealing, but success generally requires hard work.
The trendiest get-rich-quick schemes offer unlimited profits exchanging money on world currency markets; newsletters describing a variety of easy-money opportunities; the perfect sales letter; and the secret to making $4,000 in one day. If these systems worked, wouldn't everyone be using them? The thought of easy money may be appealing, but success generally requires hard work.
19. Health and diet scams:
This is really a whole category of scams, relating to the sale of medical or "alternative" medical treatments online. The scams target everything from Diet Pills to Herbal Viagra Scams. Usually using spam to get to the "customer." If you're lucky, these products will do nothing at all. Some of them are seriously dangerous by themselves. They promise cures for life threatening illnesses, causing those who buy the promise to delay proper medical treatment, sometimes past the point where it would have helped. The claim is that items not sold through traditional suppliers are "proven" to cure serious and even fatal health problems. Claims for "miracle" products and treatments convince consumers that their health problems can be cured. But people with serious illnesses who put their hopes in these offers might delay getting the health care they need. Consult a health care professional before buying any "cure-all" that claims to treat a wide range of ailments or offers quick cures and easy solutions to serious illnesses. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before buying into any of these nostrums. It'll save you a lot of headaches and heartache later. Pills that let you lose weight without exercising or changing your diet, herbal formulas that liquefy your fat cells so that they are absorbed by your body, and cures for impotence and hair loss are among the scams flooding email boxes. These gimmicks don't work. The fact is that successful weight loss requires a reduction in calories and an increase in physical activity. Beware of case histories from "cured" consumers claiming amazing results; testimonials from "famous" medical experts you've never heard of; claims that the product is available from only one source or for a limited time; and ads that use phrases like "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "exclusive product," "secret formula," and "ancient ingredient."
This is really a whole category of scams, relating to the sale of medical or "alternative" medical treatments online. The scams target everything from Diet Pills to Herbal Viagra Scams. Usually using spam to get to the "customer." If you're lucky, these products will do nothing at all. Some of them are seriously dangerous by themselves. They promise cures for life threatening illnesses, causing those who buy the promise to delay proper medical treatment, sometimes past the point where it would have helped. The claim is that items not sold through traditional suppliers are "proven" to cure serious and even fatal health problems. Claims for "miracle" products and treatments convince consumers that their health problems can be cured. But people with serious illnesses who put their hopes in these offers might delay getting the health care they need. Consult a health care professional before buying any "cure-all" that claims to treat a wide range of ailments or offers quick cures and easy solutions to serious illnesses. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before buying into any of these nostrums. It'll save you a lot of headaches and heartache later. Pills that let you lose weight without exercising or changing your diet, herbal formulas that liquefy your fat cells so that they are absorbed by your body, and cures for impotence and hair loss are among the scams flooding email boxes. These gimmicks don't work. The fact is that successful weight loss requires a reduction in calories and an increase in physical activity. Beware of case histories from "cured" consumers claiming amazing results; testimonials from "famous" medical experts you've never heard of; claims that the product is available from only one source or for a limited time; and ads that use phrases like "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "exclusive product," "secret formula," and "ancient ingredient."
20. Bulk email:
Bulk email solicitations offer to sell you lists of email addresses, by the millions, to which you can send your own bulk solicitations. Some offer software that automates the sending of email messages to thousands or millions of recipients. Others offer the service of sending bulk email solicitations on your behalf. Some of these offers say, or imply, that you can make a lot of money using this marketing method. The problem: Sending bulk email violates the terms of service of most Internet service providers. If you use one of the automated email programs, your ISP may shut you down. In addition, inserting a false return address into your solicitations, as some of the automated programs allow you to do, may land you in legal hot water with the owner of the address's domain name. Several states have laws regulating the sending of unsolicited commercial email, which you may unwittingly violate by sending bulk email. Few legitimate businesses, if any, engage in bulk email marketing for fear of offending potential customers.
Bulk email solicitations offer to sell you lists of email addresses, by the millions, to which you can send your own bulk solicitations. Some offer software that automates the sending of email messages to thousands or millions of recipients. Others offer the service of sending bulk email solicitations on your behalf. Some of these offers say, or imply, that you can make a lot of money using this marketing method. The problem: Sending bulk email violates the terms of service of most Internet service providers. If you use one of the automated email programs, your ISP may shut you down. In addition, inserting a false return address into your solicitations, as some of the automated programs allow you to do, may land you in legal hot water with the owner of the address's domain name. Several states have laws regulating the sending of unsolicited commercial email, which you may unwittingly violate by sending bulk email. Few legitimate businesses, if any, engage in bulk email marketing for fear of offending potential customers.
21. Chain letters:
You're asked to send a small amount of money ($5 to $20) to each of four or five names on a list, replace one of the names on the list with your own, and then forward the revised message via bulk email. The letter may claim that the scheme is legal, that it's been reviewed or approved by the government; or it may refer to sections of U.S. law that legitimize the scheme. Don't believe it. Chain letters-traditional or high-tech-are almost always illegal, and nearly all of the people who participate in them lose their money. The fact that a "product" such as a report on how to make money fast, a mailing list, or a recipe may be changing hands in the transaction does not change the legality of these schemes. Another concern with chain letters is the spread of viruses they might include deceptive subject lines, hidden code that causes you to spread them to your friends, and almost always appealing to the most common desires.
You're asked to send a small amount of money ($5 to $20) to each of four or five names on a list, replace one of the names on the list with your own, and then forward the revised message via bulk email. The letter may claim that the scheme is legal, that it's been reviewed or approved by the government; or it may refer to sections of U.S. law that legitimize the scheme. Don't believe it. Chain letters-traditional or high-tech-are almost always illegal, and nearly all of the people who participate in them lose their money. The fact that a "product" such as a report on how to make money fast, a mailing list, or a recipe may be changing hands in the transaction does not change the legality of these schemes. Another concern with chain letters is the spread of viruses they might include deceptive subject lines, hidden code that causes you to spread them to your friends, and almost always appealing to the most common desires.
22. Guaranteed loans or credit, on easy terms:
Some email messages offer home-equity loans that don't require equity in your home, as well as solicitations for guaranteed, unsecured credit cards, regardless of your credit history. Usually, these are said to be offered by offshore banks. Sometimes they are combined with pyramid schemes, which offer you an opportunity to make money by attracting new participants to the scheme. The home equity loans turn out to be useless lists of lenders who will turn you down if you don't meet their qualifications. The promised credit cards never come through, and the pyramid money-making schemes always collapse. As far as easy credit, guaranteed approval credit cards, and home equity loans that don't require equity in your home... forget it. Easy credit is very expensive, with rates far over the norm. "Services" selling "access to the lenders that will approve your loan" don't guarantee anything. You're going to have to go through the same approval process with these lenders as with your local bank. This one should be obvious: Cheap money? From a BANK???
Some email messages offer home-equity loans that don't require equity in your home, as well as solicitations for guaranteed, unsecured credit cards, regardless of your credit history. Usually, these are said to be offered by offshore banks. Sometimes they are combined with pyramid schemes, which offer you an opportunity to make money by attracting new participants to the scheme. The home equity loans turn out to be useless lists of lenders who will turn you down if you don't meet their qualifications. The promised credit cards never come through, and the pyramid money-making schemes always collapse. As far as easy credit, guaranteed approval credit cards, and home equity loans that don't require equity in your home... forget it. Easy credit is very expensive, with rates far over the norm. "Services" selling "access to the lenders that will approve your loan" don't guarantee anything. You're going to have to go through the same approval process with these lenders as with your local bank. This one should be obvious: Cheap money? From a BANK???
23. Credit repair:
Credit repair scams offer to erase accurate negative information from your credit file so you can qualify for a credit card, auto loan, home mortgage, or a job. The scam artists who promote these services can't deliver. Only time, a deliberate effort, and a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit. The companies that advertise credit repair services appeal to consumers with poor credit histories. Not only can't they provide you with a clean credit record, but they also may be encouraging you to violate federal law. If you follow their advice by lying on a loan or credit application, misrepresenting your Social Security number, or getting an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses, you will be committing fraud. There are all sorts of these that prey on the desires of people to repair or establish credit. The worst are the alleged credit repair services. They promise to help you to remove accurate but negative information from your credit record, or to show you how to get a federal Employer ID Number, usually in very questionable fashion. Not only do these techniques not work, they can get you in deep trouble for committing fraud. You're not going to fix your credit while you're in jail.
Credit repair scams offer to erase accurate negative information from your credit file so you can qualify for a credit card, auto loan, home mortgage, or a job. The scam artists who promote these services can't deliver. Only time, a deliberate effort, and a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit. The companies that advertise credit repair services appeal to consumers with poor credit histories. Not only can't they provide you with a clean credit record, but they also may be encouraging you to violate federal law. If you follow their advice by lying on a loan or credit application, misrepresenting your Social Security number, or getting an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses, you will be committing fraud. There are all sorts of these that prey on the desires of people to repair or establish credit. The worst are the alleged credit repair services. They promise to help you to remove accurate but negative information from your credit record, or to show you how to get a federal Employer ID Number, usually in very questionable fashion. Not only do these techniques not work, they can get you in deep trouble for committing fraud. You're not going to fix your credit while you're in jail.
24. Fraudulent Credit Card Loss Protection Insurance:
This scam offers credit card loss insurance by contacting consumers and using scare tactics or misrepresentations offering low cost protection. They use a variety of ruses to get consumers to respond and provide their card numbers. They purport to protect you from financial loss resulting from the loss or theft of your credit cards. Plans like what they offer are both grossly overpriced and not necessary in the first place. In fact, federal law limits consumers' liability for unauthorized charges to $50 per credit card, and there is no time limit for reporting loss, theft, or unauthorized use of a credit card. Similar is the Fraudulent Fraud Protection scam that The New York State Consumer Protection Board says it has uncovered in which a telemarketing organization is selling questionable and overpriced protection against telemarketing fraud to "previous victims" of telemarketing fraud.
This scam offers credit card loss insurance by contacting consumers and using scare tactics or misrepresentations offering low cost protection. They use a variety of ruses to get consumers to respond and provide their card numbers. They purport to protect you from financial loss resulting from the loss or theft of your credit cards. Plans like what they offer are both grossly overpriced and not necessary in the first place. In fact, federal law limits consumers' liability for unauthorized charges to $50 per credit card, and there is no time limit for reporting loss, theft, or unauthorized use of a credit card. Similar is the Fraudulent Fraud Protection scam that The New York State Consumer Protection Board says it has uncovered in which a telemarketing organization is selling questionable and overpriced protection against telemarketing fraud to "previous victims" of telemarketing fraud.
25. Vacation prize promotions:
Electronic certificates congratulating you on "winning" a fabulous vacation for a very attractive price are among the scams arriving in your email. Some say you have been "specially selected" for this opportunity or you are offered a luxurious trip with lots of "extras" at a bargain-basement price. Consumers say some companies deliver lower-quality accommodations and services than they’ve advertised or no trip at all. The "deluxe cruise ship" may well be more like a tugboat, upgrades can be very expensive, and hotel accommodations are likely to be very shabby. Most unsolicited commercial email goes to thousands or millions of recipients at a time. In addition, you may be required to pay more for an upgrade or scheduling the vacation at the time you want it also may require an additional fee. Others have been hit with hidden charges or additional requirements after they’ve paid. Get references on any travel company you’re planning to do business with. Then, get details of the trip in writing, including the cancellation policy, before signing on.
Electronic certificates congratulating you on "winning" a fabulous vacation for a very attractive price are among the scams arriving in your email. Some say you have been "specially selected" for this opportunity or you are offered a luxurious trip with lots of "extras" at a bargain-basement price. Consumers say some companies deliver lower-quality accommodations and services than they’ve advertised or no trip at all. The "deluxe cruise ship" may well be more like a tugboat, upgrades can be very expensive, and hotel accommodations are likely to be very shabby. Most unsolicited commercial email goes to thousands or millions of recipients at a time. In addition, you may be required to pay more for an upgrade or scheduling the vacation at the time you want it also may require an additional fee. Others have been hit with hidden charges or additional requirements after they’ve paid. Get references on any travel company you’re planning to do business with. Then, get details of the trip in writing, including the cancellation policy, before signing on.
26. Online Auctions:
You can get a lot of terrific deals through online auctions, but you need to be careful. Before buying anything that seems too cheap, or that shouldn't be on an auction site at all, ask questions. Look at the seller's feedback rating and comments. You'll get a lot of clues from that. Check the retail price of the merchandise. If it's new merchandise, you can probably expect to pay 1/2 to 2/3 of retail, even at auction. Avoid sellers with email addresses at free services like Hotmail or Yahoo unless they have really extensive positive feedback. And check out some of that feedback to make sure it's real...Whenever possible, pay with a credit card, and check the merchandise carefully as soon as it comes in. If it's not as represented, or it doesn't arrive, contact your credit card company to correct the problem. Remember the old story of the fellow who raffled off a brand newLincoln Lincoln
You can get a lot of terrific deals through online auctions, but you need to be careful. Before buying anything that seems too cheap, or that shouldn't be on an auction site at all, ask questions. Look at the seller's feedback rating and comments. You'll get a lot of clues from that. Check the retail price of the merchandise. If it's new merchandise, you can probably expect to pay 1/2 to 2/3 of retail, even at auction. Avoid sellers with email addresses at free services like Hotmail or Yahoo unless they have really extensive positive feedback. And check out some of that feedback to make sure it's real...Whenever possible, pay with a credit card, and check the merchandise carefully as soon as it comes in. If it's not as represented, or it doesn't arrive, contact your credit card company to correct the problem. Remember the old story of the fellow who raffled off a brand new
27. Internet Investigator - spy on anyone:
"Be the first kid on your block to know all the dirty secrets your neighbors are hiding! Find out what your prospective mate has hidden in his past! Find the lost city ofAtlantis
"Be the first kid on your block to know all the dirty secrets your neighbors are hiding! Find out what your prospective mate has hidden in his past! Find the lost city of
28. Free goods:
Some email messages offer valuable goods-for example, computers, other electronic items, and long-distance phone cards-for free. You're asked to pay a fee to join a club, and then told that to earn the offered goods; you have to bring in a certain number of participants. You're paying for the right to earn income by recruiting other participants, but your payoff is in goods, not money. Most of these messages are covering up pyramid schemes, operations that inevitably collapse. Almost the entire payoff goes to the promoters and little or none to consumers who pay to participate.
Some email messages offer valuable goods-for example, computers, other electronic items, and long-distance phone cards-for free. You're asked to pay a fee to join a club, and then told that to earn the offered goods; you have to bring in a certain number of participants. You're paying for the right to earn income by recruiting other participants, but your payoff is in goods, not money. Most of these messages are covering up pyramid schemes, operations that inevitably collapse. Almost the entire payoff goes to the promoters and little or none to consumers who pay to participate.
29. Cable descrambler kits:
For a small sum of money, you can buy a kit to assemble a cable descrambler that supposedly allows you to receive cable television transmissions without paying any subscription fee. The device that you build probably won't work. Most of the cable TV systems in theU.S.
For a small sum of money, you can buy a kit to assemble a cable descrambler that supposedly allows you to receive cable television transmissions without paying any subscription fee. The device that you build probably won't work. Most of the cable TV systems in the
30. Porn sites & 900 numbers:
Beware of registering or providing credit card or other information to Porn sites. Many times you are told you can surf the Internet and view adult images online for free, just for sharing your credit card number to prove you’re over 18. Consumers say that fraudulent promoters have used their credit card numbers to run up charges on their cards. Share credit card information only when buying from a company you trust. Dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card bill by complaining to the bank that issued the card. Federal law limits your liability to $50 in charges if your card is misused. These are generally fly by night organizations. The FTC has already settled several cases where Porn sites & 900 number companies had fraudulently billed consumer’s credit cards and telephone numbers (many of whom had never purchased or subscribed to services). Telephone/pay-per-call solicitation fraud "Free" access to adult material and pornography by downloading a "viewer" or "dialer" program is cause for concern. Through the program, consumers reported their modem being disconnected, then reconnected to the Internet through an international long-distance number. FTC advice: Read phone bills carefully and don't download any program to access a "free" service without reading all disclosures.
Beware of registering or providing credit card or other information to Porn sites. Many times you are told you can surf the Internet and view adult images online for free, just for sharing your credit card number to prove you’re over 18. Consumers say that fraudulent promoters have used their credit card numbers to run up charges on their cards. Share credit card information only when buying from a company you trust. Dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card bill by complaining to the bank that issued the card. Federal law limits your liability to $50 in charges if your card is misused. These are generally fly by night organizations. The FTC has already settled several cases where Porn sites & 900 number companies had fraudulently billed consumer’s credit cards and telephone numbers (many of whom had never purchased or subscribed to services). Telephone/pay-per-call solicitation fraud "Free" access to adult material and pornography by downloading a "viewer" or "dialer" program is cause for concern. Through the program, consumers reported their modem being disconnected, then reconnected to the Internet through an international long-distance number. FTC advice: Read phone bills carefully and don't download any program to access a "free" service without reading all disclosures.
31. Web site design/promotions -- Web cramming:
Getting a custom-designed Web site for a 30-trial period could be more than what was bargained for. Get a free custom-designed website for a 30-day trial period, with no obligation to continue. Targeting small businesses and non-profit organizations, the perpetrators of this scheme offer to build a Web page for free, only to start placing unauthorized charges on phone bills of their victims. Consumers say they’ve been charged on their telephone bills or received a separate invoice, even if they never accepted the offer or agreed to continue the service after the trial period. Review your telephone bills and challenge any charges you don’t recognize. Also Internet service provider scams where consumers reports of being trapped into long-term contracts of ISPs with big penalties for cancellation.
Getting a custom-designed Web site for a 30-trial period could be more than what was bargained for. Get a free custom-designed website for a 30-day trial period, with no obligation to continue. Targeting small businesses and non-profit organizations, the perpetrators of this scheme offer to build a Web page for free, only to start placing unauthorized charges on phone bills of their victims. Consumers say they’ve been charged on their telephone bills or received a separate invoice, even if they never accepted the offer or agreed to continue the service after the trial period. Review your telephone bills and challenge any charges you don’t recognize. Also Internet service provider scams where consumers reports of being trapped into long-term contracts of ISPs with big penalties for cancellation.
32. Scholarship Scams:
Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills, many students and their families are falling prey to scholarship scams. Beware of offers claiming: "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." "You can't get this information anywhere else." "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship." "You've been selected by a 'national foundation' to receive a scholarship" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.
Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills, many students and their families are falling prey to scholarship scams. Beware of offers claiming: "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." "You can't get this information anywhere else." "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship." "You've been selected by a 'national foundation' to receive a scholarship" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.
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