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SCAM AWARENESS
Welcome to the IPD scam awareness page. Each year hundreds of thousands of innocent persons are the victims of scams. This site is designed to show you a general outline of some of the more popular scams in the northeast area. Also, you will find convenient links to additional web sites that can explain more specifically what to look for and how to avoid being ripped off.
Advance Fee Scheme
An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return.
The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims.
Some Tips to Avoid the Advanced Fee Schemes:
" If the offer of an "opportunity" appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner.
" Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you intend to spend, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
" Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.
" Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address, or of dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line, who are never "in" when you call, but always return your call later.
" Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or noncircumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying the bona fides of the people with whom you intend to do business. Con artists often use noncircumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement.
Additional scams and web links:
Fake E-mail designed to obtain your SSN, bank account and password information.
On the web
TIPS TO REMEMBER
Ask yourself if you solicited anything from the company that contacted you.
Ask, "Is this too good to be true"?
"Google" search or perform additional on-line searches to research the company or type of solicitation.
Visit the FBI scam web sight.
Beware anyone who demands you 'wire transfer' the money to them via Western Union.
Call your local Police BEFORE cashing any checks or wire transferring any monies.
Have your bank put a "hold" on the check until it clears or is determined to be fraudulent.
Be aware and use common sense. NO ONE sends you free money for nothing.
Make sure that web address show the secure "https" heading and that the name of the sender appears in the address....such as IRS.GOV. Remember, banks and other institutions do NOT send emails or send you to un-related web addresses for your personal information.