Scam Warning Signs
- You have to pay a fee
- Money-back offers or guarantees
- Credit card or bank account information required
- Provides "exclusive" information
Scams: "Phishing" & "Pharming"
"Phishing"
- Unsolicited emails that bear the logo of your bank or credit card
- Appear legitimate but are traps to lure you into giving your personal or account information
NEVER give out Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers to unsolicited emails or calls
"Pharming"
- Unsolicited emails that encourage you to visit a website or click on suspicious links
- Make sure your inbox spam filters are up to date
BE CAREFUL about giving out your contact information or email address
Reporting Scams:
National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) - File an online complaint at www.fraud.org
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - File an online complaint at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams
Call 1-877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
Write to: Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
State Attorney General's Office - File your complaint with the Consumer Protection Division @ www.naag.org
US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) - File an online complaint involving mail fraud @
www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov
Call the crime hotline - 1-877-876-2455
Write - Inspection Service Support Group
222 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 1250
Chicago, IL 60606-6100
Better Business Bureau (BBB) - File an online complaint about a business @ www.bbb.org