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You can avoid becoming a victim of fraud: Warning Signs: - Sounds too good to be true
- Pressures you to act "right away"
- Guarantees success
- Promises unusually high returns
- Requires an upfront investment - even for a free prize
- Buyers want to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference
- Doesn't have the look of a real business
- Something just doesn't feel right
Play it safe: - Never click on a link inside an e-mail to visit a Web site. Type the address into your browser instead
- It's easy for a business to look legitimate online. If you have any doubts, verify the company with the Better Business Bureau
- Only 2 percent of reported identity theft occurs through the mail. Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint
- Retain your receipts, statements, and packing slips.Review them for accuracy.
Shred confidential documents instead of simply discarding them in the trash
Fraud facts: - A bank will never e-mail or call you for your account number
- Don't wire money to people you don't know
- Be cautious of work-at-home job offers
- Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau
- There are no legitimate jobs that involve reshipping items or financial instruments from your home
- Foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. You can't win no matter what they say
- Check your monthly bank statements for charges you don't recognize
- Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus once a year from www.annualcreditreport.com
Get involved: - It's never too early to become an informed consumer. Point out "too good to be true" offers to your kids, and teach them to be skeptical
- Take an active interest in the financial activities of your aging parents
- Share information about scams with friends and family. Use social networking to help keep them safe
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