| The rise in bogus business opportunities as well as | | | | Prevention Tips |
| work at home scams have become far too large | | | | Never send money upfront without understanding |
| of a concern for law enforcement to ignore. | | | | a businesses background. Contact the Better |
| Federal and state task forces are now performing | | | | Business Bureau and see if the company is listed. |
| law enforcement sweeps that target phony | | | | If not put in a request to have them inspected. |
| Internet businesses and scams. There have been | | | | Do some personal research to see of you can |
| twenty-three fraud convictions and twenty-five | | | | find when and where a company was formed and |
| individual arrests in which scam artists are being | | | | if they are in fact legitimate. Do not provide a |
| sentenced to more than 160 years in prison. | | | | company with your social security number or |
| Ongoing investigations as well as court hearings | | | | bank account information. With the rise in identity |
| are still involved in this ongoing battle. | | | | theft you have to be very cautious when giving |
| Scam Types | | | | out any personal details. Always search for |
| There are numerous scams and fraudulent | | | | trustworthy proof of a company's background |
| businesses on the Internet. Programs such as | | | | prior to giving out any of the above personal |
| online surveys, free government grants | | | | details. |
| programs, mystery shopper positions and data | | | | Stopping Scams And Fraud |
| entry jobs were all scams. The company coastal | | | | Prevention is the key to stopping scams such as |
| vacation has numerous fraud sites appear causing | | | | the coastal vacation scans. Unfortunately any time |
| damage to their company name. Scam artists | | | | there is a high demand product that draws in |
| were portraying coastal directors and creating | | | | customers, scam artists follow right behind. With |
| uncanny sales pitches to lure customers in for the | | | | the help of law enforcement tracking in bringing |
| scam. The scam artists would tell the victim to | | | | down these scam artists and faux Internet |
| send a check for X amount of money and would | | | | businesses we are making progress. Making |
| take the check and disappear. Customers were | | | | ourselves as well as those around us aware of |
| left to lose the money, vacation offers and trust | | | | the necessary precautions for Internet safety is |
| of online businesses. | | | | the other half of the solution. You can never be |
| The Victims | | | | too precautions about who you give your money |
| Both customers looking for a vacation deal as well | | | | or information to. Think of the story of the big |
| as those looking for a work at home business | | | | bad wolf. He looked an awful lot like grandma |
| have been scam victims. For those who have had | | | | behind those glasses and bonnet. Scam artists are |
| to learn the hard way to Internet safety, it's a | | | | just like a wolf in a disguise. We have to look past |
| difficult lesson. For those of us who have not | | | | the disguise and search deeper for what really lies |
| been scam victims there are tips to prevent this | | | | beneath it all to protect ourselves from getting |
| from occurring to you or anyone you know. | | | | bitten. |