| cial scams have been around for a long time. | | | | taxes. These charges, the caller explains, can be |
| Anyone who has ever received a message from | | | | paid for with a credit card. Then the caller asks |
| someone in Nigeria with millions of dollars to share | | | | the victim for personal information, including a |
| might be surprised to find out that this scam has | | | | credit card number. |
| been around, in some form, since the early part | | | | Of course, there is no prize and there are no |
| of the twentieth century. It has been updated for | | | | fees. Once the caller has the victim's credit card |
| the Internet Age, and as many people have | | | | number and other personal information, he or she |
| discovered, it still works. With many people rightly | | | | can then use this information to spend like crazy |
| concerned about the increased amount of financial | | | | using the victim's credit card. Or they can arrange |
| fraud that uses the Internet as a tool, some | | | | some more elaborate crimes using identity theft. |
| people might be surprised to see that another old | | | | Either way, the victim will find themselves with a |
| form of fraud is making a comeback, and that is | | | | very complicated situation that may take years |
| telemarketing fraud. | | | | to unravel. |
| A current telemarketing scam involves a caller | | | | Should anyone call you to tell you that you have |
| who claims to represent a company that has | | | | won something, be careful. Ask if they can |
| recently held a sweepstakes. The caller informs | | | | provide the information in writing. Be aware that in |
| the person who answers the phone that he or | | | | most states, it is illegal to ask for fees from |
| she has won a prize of some value. It might be a | | | | someone who has actually one a prize. If it is a |
| car or a washing machine, but it will always be | | | | prize, then it should be free, and that includes |
| something that most people would accept with | | | | delivery. If you are at all suspicious of the person |
| little thought. The caller then explains that there | | | | on the phone, then hang up. It is always better to |
| will be some costs associated with delivering the | | | | be safe than sorry. |
| prize to the winner, such as shipping charges and | | | | |