Latest Consumer Scams

From the Washington State Office of the Attorney General: Press Release “Fresh Start Opportunities” reeks of scam Details: “If a young person knocks on your door and says they’re selling magazines for a charity, wait before reaching for your pocketbook. Fresh Start Opportunities claims to be a “job business training company” that sends… »

Techniques Used By Fraudsters On Social Networking Sites

Fraudsters continue to hijack accounts on social networking sites and spread malicious software by using various techniques. One technique involves the use of spam to promote phishing sites, claiming there has
been a violation of the terms of agreement or some other type of issue which needs to be resolved. Other spam entices users to download… »

ATM Card Fraud

Over the past several weeks, the Police/Sheriff’s Departments have seen an increasing number of thefts using fraudulent ATM cards. The suspect(s) use a card skimming device, placed over the outside of an ATM machine, to capture the magnetic stripe information on the back of the ATM card. They then watch the victim use the ATM… »

Study Released: Identity Theft-Victim’s Perspective

From the Identity Theft Resource Center

Identity Theft - Victim’s Perspective
ITRC 6th Annual Study Released
San Diego, CA: The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) released a significant report today on the impact of identity theft victimization: Identity Theft: The Aftermath 2008. With six years of victim responses and shared experiences, this information provides a… »

Experts Warn Mobile Phones Face Hacking Threat

Experts Warn Mobile Phones Face Hacking Threat
From Reuters
By Tarmo Virki, European technology correspondent
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Accessing your bank account using your mobile phone might seem safe, but security experts say would-be hackers can access confidential information via a simple text message seemingly from your service provider.
Read Article at… »

Steering Clear of Car Cloning: Advice and Solutions

Car cloning: stealing the identity of a legitimately-owned vehicle and slapping it onto a stolen car.

It’s a serious crime problem that’s being aggressively investigated by law enforcement. For example: today in Tampa, we joined with our partners in announcing that 17 major players in a long-running car cloning criminal enterprise have been indicted by a… »

“Operation False Charity”

In a nationwide, federal-state crackdown on fraudulent telemarketers claiming to help police, firefighters, and veterans, the Federal Trade Commission, together with 61 Attorneys General, Secretaries of State, and other law enforcers of 49 states and the District of Columbia, today announced “Operation False Charity.” Federal and state enforcers announced 76 law enforcement actions against 32… »

Consumer Federation of America’s “Fake Check Task Force” Helps Consumers Avoid Fraud

Consumer Federation of America’s Fake Check Task Force launches a national campaign to combat fake check scams. Consumer Action is a task force partner.

Authentic looking checks and money orders are the draw that tricks millions of consumers into sending money to crooks for what seems to be a legitimate deal.

At least 1.3 million consumers have… »

FBI: White-Collar Crime and Fraud Information

From Federal Bureau of Investigation White-Collar Crime and Fraud
Fraud—the art of deliberate deception for unlawful gain—is as old as history; the term “white-collar crime” was reportedly coined in 1939 by Professor Edwin Sutherland and has since become synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business and government professionals. Today’s con artists are more… »

FBI Consumer Alert: Online Rental Ads Could Be Phony

You can’t believe your good fortune—you find a rental home in a nice area through a Craigslist classified ad at an unbelievably low rate. The landlord—who had to leave the country and travel to Nigeria—asks that you wire him two months’ worth of rent. You arrive at the home on the agreed-upon date, but there’s… »