What is a scam?
A SCAM is a fraudulent attempt to
steal your money or to deceive and manipulate you into giving your
money to an individual or corporation who doesn't deserve it. A
scam typically promises a large return with little or no risk involved.
How do I avoid scams?
Various research has shown that 95% of scams originate
from spam (spam scams). With this in mind, our single most important
piece of advice would be to ignore all spam. Remember, if it's spam,
it's a scam! For more information regarding spam, check out our
spam page.
Always be cautious of any company that asks for
money even if it looks like a legitimate reason (registration fees,
instruction manual etc). There is absolutely no logic in paying
to work!
Don't trust everyone. Just as you wouldnt trust
a stranger with your money in real life, there is no reason why
you should do so on the internet.
Research each company well, checking the whois
details as explained in the the tips page, and always ask for a
few references you can call. Call each person and ask about their
experiences with the company. Avoid PTR scams by checking out our
list of paying PTR programs.
Finally, when a good opportunity comes your way,
remember, the basic law of nature, what looks too good to be true,
normally isnt true!
Do you think you have been scammed?
According to recent statistics from the National
Consumer League’s list of Top 10 Net Frauds, online auctions
seem to top the list of Internet scams for a few years running.
Many people have got scammed on the Internet, but today the scammed
person is not necessarily the loser. Stop blaming yourself and fight
scams NOW.
Start by reporting scams to the local police,
FBI, Secret Service, post office, phone company, local newspaper
and tv station, your bank and credit card company, your lawyer and
the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Besides, consider reporting scams to the following
agencies which are specialised in dealing with Internet scams.
The
Internet Crime Complaint Center - This is a partnership
between the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National
White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), that strives to address fraud
and scams committed over the Internet.
Better
Business Bureau - File an online complaint against
any company or charity that has treated you unfairly. The site also
provides a national database of reliability reports. A positive
report doesn't mean the company is definately a legitimate one,
but on the other hand, companies with negative reports should be
avoided.
Rip
Off Report - File a report about any fraud or rip off
scam you have come across. The report you file will be placed online
for the world to see!
The
National Fraud Information Center - This site is US
based and is specialised in dealing with most kinds of internet
and telemarketing frauds/scams.
Fraud
Watch International - Seeks to reduce the incidence
of Internet fraud by educating consumers, shutting down fraudulent
and scam sites and prosecuting frauders.
Federal
Trade Commission - Allows you to file a complaint about
a particular company or organization, using a secure complaint form.
Although the FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems,
the complaint helps in fraud investigation, and can lead to law
enforcement action.
ScamWatch
- An Australia based site that covers all sorts of scams from financial
and investment scams such as pyramid schemes to miracle cures and
instant weight loss treatments. Scamwatch keeps a look out for new
scams, rorts and rip offs and provides the locals places to report
it.
Await More Details Soon .... |