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Online Scam Information
Online scams can occur in many different forms. Below are the top six scams as reported by the Federal Trade
Commission for 2004:
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Internet Auction Fraud:
The non-delivery or untimely arrival of goods. Also, the delivery of goods that are less valuable than
advertised and failure to disclose all the relevant information about the product or terms of the sale.
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Shop-at-Home/Catalog Sales:
Problems with purchases made via the Internet (not including auction sales), telephone or mail such as
undisclosed costs, failure to deliver on time, non-delivery and refusal to honor a guarantee.
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Internet Access Services and Computers:
Include trial offers from ISPs, difficulty canceling an ISP account, undisclosed Website charges, problems
with computer software and equipment purchases and spyware.
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Foreign Money Offers:
Letters or e-mails that offer the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that a
self-proclaimed government official is trying to transfer illegally out of a foreign country in return for
money, bank account numbers or other identifying information from the victim.
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Internet Information and Adult Services:
Charges to credit cards or phone bills for services never provided and/or received.
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Business Opportunities:
Include medical billing scams, misleading franchise and Internet-based business opportunities as well as
wealth building plans that don't make good on their promises.
Internet auction fraud is the most reported incident at 48%.
Please click one of the links below for detailed information on different scams and how to protect yourself.
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