I got this in the mail the other day and thought its always a good thing from time to time, to mention this kind of thing.
The warning signs of fraud; if something:
- 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 look right
- Never click on a link inside an email to visit a web site. Type the address into your browser instead.
- Its easy for a business to look legitimate online. If you have any doubts, verify them with the Better Business Bureau.
- Only 2% of reported identify theft occurs through the mail. Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Retain your receipts, statement and packing slips. Review them for accuracy.
- Shred confidential documents instead of simply discarding them in the trash.
- Your bank will never email or call you for your account number.
- Don't wire money to people you do not know.
- Be cautious of work-at-home job offers.
- 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 annualcreditreport.com, or check with your bank to see if they have a privacy protection plan that includes this.
