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Your search for “advance fee fraud” produced “43” results

(B Rosen)

Report Lists The Top Scams Of 2011, Somehow Nigerian Email Tricksters Weren't The Worst
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 2, 2012 4:00 PM   43 Comments
Whether it's being suckered into thinking you won a super awesome prize that requires a payment to collect it, or some aristocrat in Nigeria needs your help and money to collect on a big financial settlement, consumers were hit by a lot of scams last year. A new report lists the top 10 schemes consumers fell prey to in 2011. More »

(boxbabe86)

The "Do You Have This In Stock" Email Scam
By Ben Popken on November 14, 2011 3:00 PM   55 Comments
Reader SkokieGuy's manufacturing company keeps getting these emails asking to buy parts and equipment they don't even make. The diction is weird and they seem to be using a template. "I know this is a scam," writes SkokieGuy."But I can't figure out why." More »

(Belldog)

Here's What A Secret Shopper Scam Looks Like
By Ben Popken on September 8, 2011 1:00 PM   73 Comments
Reader Brian got a surprise $1,530 check in the mail and an invitation to become a secret shopper. The letter told him that he had been selected to become a "mystery shopper" and report on how local stores were doing. He would buy selected items from them and report on the process, and get to keep what he bought. Sounds great, who couldn't use some extra cash, right? It all sounds so enticing because, as Brian was able to detect, it was the bait to lure him into an advance fee fraud scam. More »

Fraudsters Already Exploiting Google+
By Ben Popken on July 26, 2011 12:00 PM   31 Comments
It was inevitable. With the creation of Google+, a new social network already boasting over 20 million users, the scammers were sure to follow. Here's a note a probable fraudster sent to reader Geoff through his Google+ profile, informing him that someone died in Africa and he needs to be contacted about a "business transaction" of "magnitude." More »

(Maulleigh)

Deaf Party Planner Is Actually An Advance Fee Scam
By Laura Northrup on June 17, 2011 3:15 PM   58 Comments
Reader Steve in Florida owns a small restaurant. He recently received three odd phone calls from prospective customers—deaf people using a relay service—wanting to place a catering order for a party of about 100 people using a credit card. Oh, and even though the party is three weeks out, could his business send $956 to the party planner who will be picking up the food, even though the party is a few weeks out? Steve was right to be suspicious, and wants to warn other small business owners. More »

California AG Asks Judge To Throw Tax Lady Roni Deutch In Jail
By Chris Morran on April 26, 2011 1:30 PM   80 Comments
Last summer, the California Attorney General filed a $34 million lawsuit against daytime TV mainstay "Tax Lady" Roni Deutch, alleging that her firm defrauded customers out of millions each year. Now, the AG's office has asked that Deutch be thrown in jail for allegedly destroying important documents and for not refunding money to customers. More »

(Mishel Churkin)

Visa Letting People Send Money By Credit Card Could Be Boon For Scammers
By Ben Popken on March 18, 2011 1:00 PM   20 Comments
Visa is launching a new service that will let people send each other money from their Visa or bank account to each other's Visa debit, credit or prepaid card, as we noted yesterday. But while this will open up new vistas of convenience, and offer a way for people who are sick of scammers exploiting Paypal's refund system to conduct transactions, I would at the same time expect to see new kinds of advance fee fraud using the service. More »

(SA_Steve)

The Laziest Spam Ever, Or The Smartest?
By Ben Popken on January 11, 2011 12:00 PM   27 Comments
Apparently the recent, and inexplicable, dropoff in worldwide spam levels represented some more experienced players getting out of the game. I got this spam yesterday that just very well may be the laziest financial lead-generation spam I've ever seen. Or it just could be the smartest. Take a look. More »

(B Rosen)

What A Work At Home Job Scam Looks Like
By Ben Popken on November 15, 2010 5:00 PM   65 Comments
Fraudsters are trying to take advantage of the unemployed in the bad economy by posting enticing work at home job ads. But what you're really signing up for is to be the rube in an advance fee fraud scheme. Here's the email one job-seeker got back. Bear in mind this is the first contact back from the "employer" after sending in her resume. All spelling and spacing is sic. More »

(Great Beyond)

Best Fraud Spam Ever
By Ben Popken on September 10, 2010 2:00 PM   34 Comments
Something about this spammed fraud attempt that landed in our inbox amused me. Maybe it was the chicken burgers for mother. More »

(C.Barr)

Bank Of America Says I Stole $11,000 From Myself, Gambled It Away
By Laura Northrup on June 23, 2010 9:00 AM   125 Comments
Reader M. has a sad and frightening cautionary tale for us all. He's unemployed, and his debit card was stolen. Now he's been accused of stealing more than $11,000 from himself and gambling it away at casinos. Bank of America has finished its investigation, and concluded that M. is responsible for the withdrawals, and now must pay back the $11,000 he didn't spend. At the 20% APR charged for cash advances, naturally. More »

(少佐)

Apartment Scammer Wants To Give My $1500 Back - What's The Catch?
By Laura Northrup on June 2, 2010 11:00 AM   67 Comments
Pat tells Consumerist that her son fell for an apartment scam. Looking for a sublet in San Francisco from his home in Massachusetts, he settled on a place and met up with the landlord's brother, who—what luck!—happened to live in the same area as Pat's son! Of course, once he moved there, he discovered that his keys didn't work, since someone else entirely lived in and owned the apartment. More »

(joelogon)

Top 9 Scams Of 2009
By Ben Popken on February 17, 2010 11:10 AM   43 Comments
The National Consumers League released their top 9 scams of 2009 findings, based on the scams that get reported to their fraud center. An interesting trend is that business opportunity and fake scholarships scams made the list this year, no doubt capitalizing on the recession. More »

(Photo: laurenatclemson)

Check Fraudster Strikes On Craigslist
By Chris Walters on January 8, 2010 8:20 AM   59 Comments
Hopefully most of you know better than to ever accept a check from a stranger, but I think it's always good to share horror stories like this one to remind people of why it's a bad idea. The problem is, if you deposit a check that turns out to be fake, you're the one who will be held responsible for it. Unlike credit card theft, there's no law or rule in place to protect you from check fraud or advance fee fraud—and your bank doesn't want to be left holding the bag any more than you do. More »

Love In The Time Of Internet Fraud
By Laura Northrup on October 3, 2009 6:00 PM   74 Comments

—>Online dating has resulted in many happy relationships out here in the real world, but also provides a unique opportunity for different kinds of scammers to quickly gain your confidence and manipulate your emotions in order to get past your normal scam-detecting defenses. So how do you protect yourself?  More »

Warning: Read The Fine Print Before Cashing An Unexpected Rebate Check
By Chris Walters on July 10, 2009 4:26 PM   51 Comments

At first, it looks like a rebate check, but read the fine print. It says if you endorse and cash the check, you are signing up for a marketing service called "Great Fun." Then, your credit card will be charged $149.99. That subscription will renew annually unless you cancel it with Great Fun.  More »

Nigerian Advance Fee Scams Become Only Slightly More Plausible
By Laura Northrup on May 25, 2009 2:04 PM   38 Comments

—>Good news, everyone! The advance fee fraud scammers of Nigeria have decided to stop fussing with old-fashioned checks and wire transfers, and have switched to an advanced new technology. They're called "ATM cards." Shiny!  More »

Congratulations! You Just Won A Scam!
By Chris Walters on May 7, 2009 12:32 AM   106 Comments

—>Is there anything scammers won't try in their attempts to disguise advance fee fraud? Nope. Chelsea and her husband just found out that OMG THEY JUST WON 350K!!!1! from the Gaming Association of America. They'll be receiving their check shortly, but in the meantime the GAA has sent them a much smaller check for about $5,000 to cover any fees associated with the prize. All they need to do is contact the "non-government service tax agent (GST)" to take care of cashing and handing over that $5k, and they'll be swimming with hookers in champagne-filled pools.  More »

Congrats! You're Hired! (To Be An Advance Fee Fraud Victim)
By Ben Popken on April 4, 2009 1:00 AM   24 Comments

—>Are you a fast worker? Can you cash checks drawn on your name? File monthly reports on your preformed tasks? How would like a job in the exciting and burgeoning field of being an advance-fee fraud victim? Positions are available, and filling fast. Here's the hot job offer reader Joel got emailed:  More »

Here's What A Mystery Shopper Scam Looks Like
By Chris Walters on March 23, 2009 11:26 PM   66 Comments

—>Want to see what a secret shopper scam actually looks like? Tracey sent us scans of the one that arrived in her mailbox today. It included a letter printed on cut-and-paste letterhead, a form, and a check for $4,200. The idea behind this sort of scam—also called an advance fee fraud or wire transfer scam—is to get the victim to deposit the check, wait for it to clear, then wire back the bulk of the money. Weeks or months later, the check will turn out to be fake, and by law the victim owes the bank for the full amount of the check.  More »

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