Fraud: Recognize It. Report
It. Stop It.
Produced in
cooperation with Competition Bureau Canada
Fraud by telephone, Internet
and mail is a serious international problem.
It steals your money, your identity and
even your self-respect. Protect yourself
by learning to recognize fraud.
The
Face of Fraud: It's Not Who You Think.
Believe it or not, there
is no typical fraud victim, but research
finds that fraud victims are likely to be
educated, informed, relatively affluent,
and involved in their communities.
Scammers don't care about
your age, race, income, or geographic location.
They just want your money.
You Wouldn't Fall For
It?
Thousands of people are
defrauded each year. Scam artists use the
latest trends and sophisticated techniques:
- professional marketing materials
- well-crafted and researched telephone
scripts, which are traded among criminals
- a friendly tone and "generous"
offer to put you at ease
- believable answers to your tough questions
- an ability to impersonate legitimate
businesses, charities, and causes
- expertly using your own emotions against
you
They are professional
criminals: They know what they're doing
and, unfortunately for their victims, they
do it well.
You Can Protect Yourself.
Identity theft is the
fastest-growing type of fraud. Crooks can
do bad things using your good name. Protect
your precious personal information. Ask
all marketing, research, or charity callers
for:
- detailed, written information that
you can check out yourself
- time to think about the offer. Scam
artists pressure you for an answer, saying
the offer will expire or go to the next
person if you don't act now
- valid references and a way to contact
them
- a call-back number. This is not fool-proof.
Seasoned crooks are happy to give you
a cell phone or unlisted number where
a colleague is standing by to finish taking
your number.
The Best Way to Help
Stop Fraud Is to Report It.
If a scam artist has
contacted you or if you've been defrauded,
contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov
or 1-877-FTC-HELP. We gather evidence, identify
fraud trends and alert law enforcement throughout
the U.S., Canada, and abroad. By reporting
your experience, you can prevent others
from becoming victims and help put an end
to fraud.
Don't Fall
For the Big Prize Scam
A caller says you
won a big lottery prize but you must
send money before you can collect.
It's fraud and you will lose your
money!
Contact the FTC:
www.ftc.gov
or 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Legitimate lottery
and sweepstakes administrators never
charge fees to deliver your prize.
If you send money, you will never
get it back.
FRAUD: RECOGNIZE
IT. REPORT IT. STOP IT. |
The Pitch vs. the Facts
Is your credit really
protected?
The Pitch: They
say, "We'll protect you from scammers
who could run up huge debts on your credit
cards without you knowing. Just send us
your card numbers and our fee."
The Facts: Offers
of credit protection or "insurance"
against fraud are attempts to get your credit
card numbers and access your money. Call
your credit card companies first. If someone
fraudulently uses your cards, you are responsible
only for the first $50.
Check out that check.
The Pitch: A
call, a letter, or an e-mail from a "highly-placed"
official of a foreign government requests
your assistance to transfer a large amount
of money. If you can help, you'll earn a
huge fee!
The Facts: These
checks are almost always counterfeit. The
deposit looks legitimate until the check
bounces a few days later. Your bank will
then ask you how you intend to cover the
money you transferred to the scammers. It
can take up to 21 days for a check to clear,
so ask your bank if the check has cleared
- not just whether the money is available.
You pay to play, but
you can't win
The Pitch: A
caller says you were automatically entered
into a foreign lottery and you won a big
prize! But you must act now, and send fees
to cover taxes and handling.
The Facts: Most
legitimate lotteries do not call winners.
If a caller requires you to pay a fee before
you can claim a "prize," it's
a scam.
I
Sent Them the Processing Fee But My
Credit Card Never Arrived.
A caller offers you a low-interest
credit card but you must send money
before the card can be activated.
It's fraud and you will lose your
money!
Contact the FTC: www.ftc.gov
or 1-877-FTC-HELP.
People who have experienced credit
problems often are targeted by fraudsters
who offer low-interest loans and credit
cards - for a fee. People who pay
the fee don't receive the loan or
card, and they never get their money
back!
FRAUD: RECOGNIZE
IT. REPORT IT. STOP IT. |
Pre-qualified never
means prepay
The Pitch: You're
told you've been "pre-qualified"
to get a low-interest loan or credit card,
or to repair your bad credit even though
banks have turned you down. You've got to
provide your Social Security Number, driver's
license, and bank account numbers - and
a processing fee of several hundred dollars.
The Facts: Legitimate
lenders never "guarantee" a card
or loan before you apply. A legitimate pre-qualified
offer means you've been selected to apply.
You still have to complete an application
and you still can be turned down.
Not-so-special delivery
The Pitch: Your
business receives a "last chance"
invoice for a listing in a "business
directory." Or an invoice says an urgent
delivery of photocopier or fax supplies
is waiting for confirmation of your address.
It appears that someone in your office ordered
services or supplies, but the bill hasn't
been paid.
The Facts: Scam
operators dupe many businesses into paying
for goods and services that haven't been
ordered. They bet that many small business
owners and their staffs are just too busy
to check that every invoice is legitimate.
Carefully examine all invoices, even those
under $50.
Con job
The Pitch: An
employment advertisement offers a work-at-home
opportunity, multi-level marketing plan
or other way to "be your own boss,"
and increase your income.
The Facts: Sending
fees for job guarantees is risky. In many
cases, scammers advertise all kinds of job
opportunities from envelope stuffing to
craft assembly, and all too often, the ads
make promises they can't keep. You lose
more money instead of making more money.
Identity Thieves
Steal Your Good Name, Your Money...
Even Your Self-respect.
Protect yourself.
Don't give out your Social Security,
driver's license, or bank account
or credit card numbers. Crooks use
them to steal your money and commit
crimes in your name. Check your monthly
statements.
FRAUD: RECOGNIZE
IT. REPORT IT. STOP IT. |
It's a Rip-Off!
Here's the Tipoff:
- The caller is more excited than you
are.
- The caller demands an immediate answer
but refuses to send you anything in writing.
- You must pay fees or buy a product
before you can collect your prize or get
credit.
- You must give your credit card or bank
account numbers, or copies of personal
documents - but you get nothing in writing.
- You must send payment by wire service
or courier.
- The price for a product is much lower
than the price for the same product on
the open market.
- You are offered a large payment or
reward in exchange for allowing the use
of your bank account - often for depositing
checks or transferring money.
- You receive an unexpectedly large check.
- Your business is invoiced for supplies
or directory listings you didn't order.
Deceptive Telemarketers
Calling You?
Call Us.
The right information
can help you avoid falling for a fraud.
When a caller ask you to send money to claim
a big prize, it's fraud! You'll lose your
money. When a caller or Internet contact
asks for your Social Security, driver's
license, or bank or credit card numbers,
don't provide it! You could lose your identity
and your money.
|