1) High-pressure sales tactics.
2) Need to act quickly.
3) Need to keep it a secret.
4) Request to wire money.
5) Overpayment for goods and services.
6) Request for personal information.
7) Something offered to you by a stranger.
8) Promise of quick and large returns on your investment.
9) You’ve won!
10) Absence of sound documentation and verification.
10 Ways To Protect Yourself
1) Shred
2) Don’t give out personal information.
3) Put up a “no soliciting” sign.
4) Secure your incoming and outgoing mail.
5) Don’t reply to unsolicited messages (email and phone).
6) Get on the Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov).
7) Don’t believe the hype; do your research.
8) Verify identities and stories before acting.
9) Keep personal documents under lock and key.
10) If you suspect fraud, contact the police.
James Munton & Jelita Mcleod, The Con: How Scams Work, Why You’re Vulnerable, and How To Protect Yourself, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2011
Common Online Scams
http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0002-common-online-scams
Reporting and Learning About Internet Fraud
Photo: SignsByDiane (flickr)
Top Ten Scams
Top Scams of 2014