Scam Alerts

November 22, 2013

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me – so the saying goes. And when it comes to phishing and telemarketing scams, it seems that those fooled once may have unintentionally put themselves on a sh...

Plumber Home Repair Scams

November 22, 2013

Article, General Consumer, Listing Fraud, Scam Alerts

2

Unless you liken yourself to a modern day “Tim The Toolman” Taylor, the inner workings of your air ducts, the contents of your chimney or the quality of your roof remain somewhat of a mystery. So when a helpfu...

Watch Out for Bogus FedEx Shipping Scam This Holiday Season

Sean Boulger

November 21, 2013

Article, Featured, Scam Alerts

'Tis the season to watch out for scams. As the holidays get closer, scammers are on the prowl to exploit your Christmas spirit and rip you off. One popular holiday fraud scheme that we see each year at Scambook...

Recap: Top 4 Worst Scams of 2013

Sean O'Connor

November 18, 2013

Article, General Consumer, Scam Alerts, Work at Home Programs

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What were the worst scams of 2013? In 2013, Scambook observed a wide variety of old and new scams targeting consumers. Common threats included identity theft, work from home scams, fake charities and gas statio...

How Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes Work

November 17, 2013

Article, Financial Services, General Consumer, Listing Fraud, Scam Alerts

1

If you look on the back of the one-dollar bill, you will find a symbol seemingly out of place among the bald eagles, halls of congress, and faces of founding fathers on other bills. An unfinished pyramid, sign...

Over 40,000 Arizona Patients at Risk of Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft

Sean Boulger

October 22, 2013

If you are or previously were a patient at Scottsdale Dermatology Clinic in Maricopa County, Arizona, check your credit card statements because you may be a victim of identity theft. Earlier this month, auth...

Scammers Impersonate Virginia Police Chief in IRS Back-Taxes Fraud

October 21, 2013

Article, Scam Alerts

No one likes paying taxes, but the only thing worse than paying taxes is getting caught not paying taxes. Many consumers fear being audited by the IRS, and recently, scammers have been using those fears to prey...

Work From Home Scam: Identity Thieves Promise Jobs with Google or Facebook to Steal Credit Card Info

October 16, 2013

Article, Scam Alerts, Work at Home Programs

4

Scammers are using well-known Internet brands like Google, Facebook and Yahoo to trick people into purchasing “work from home kits” and then ripping off victims’ credit cards, bank accounts, or stealing their p...

Fake Sallie Mae Instagram Scam Using Student Loan Forgiveness to Steal Private Info

October 7, 2013

1

If last week’s government shutdown weren’t bad enough news for consumers, fraudulent accounts for student loan giant Sallie Mae have started popping up on Instagram. The fake Sallie Mae accounts claim they’re o...

Photo of Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon

Avoiding Breast Cancer Charity Scams

October 7, 2013

Article, Listing Fraud, Scam Alerts

October is officially here which means pumpkins, changing leaves and lots of pink. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What started out two decades ago as a few pink ribbons has now turned ...

Weird News: County Fair Carnival Worker Jailed for Hello Kitty Fraud

October 4, 2013

Article, Scam Alerts

As the season of state and county fairs draws to a close, the rides are being towed away, racing pigs are resting up for next year, and a 65-year-old carnival worker is in handcuffs for accepting bribes for gia...

6 Tips to Avoid Fake Charity Scams During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Miranda Perry

September 30, 2013

Article, Featured, Scam Alerts

2

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the US. It's estimated that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, so National Breast Cancer Awareness Month seeks to educate t...

Penny Auction Scams: $27.43 iPad 2?

September 29, 2013

Article, General Consumer, Penny Auctions, Scam Alerts

11

As you step outside one early October morning feeling the cool breeze of Fall on your face, that familiar mix of excitement and dread hits you: holiday season is just around the corner. As your thoughts of li...

Weird News: Walmart Scammers Vomit On Video Game Receipts to Get Refunds

Sean O'Connor

September 19, 2013

Article, Scam Alerts

Some retailers have generous return policies. More often than not, you just need to show them the product and receipt to get a refund. Of course, these policies are often abused by scammers, but what's happenin...

Your Sister is in the Hospital?

September 11, 2013

Article, Listing Fraud, Scam Alerts

1

The phone rings in the middle of the night. Your heart jumps. Who could that be? What would be so important that they would call at this hour? You answer, and your fears are confirmed: It's bad news. Yo...

Enhanced Recovery Company, T-Mobile Debt Collection Agency, May Send False Bills

Sean O'Connor

September 11, 2013

When you don't pay your bills, your balance is sent to a debt collection agency. From there, the collection agency pesters you until you finally pay off your debts. Seems like a pretty standard affair, right? B...

Photo of a woman measuring her waist after dieting

Is the Green Coffee Diet As Seen On Dr. Oz a Weight Loss Scam?

Miranda Perry

September 10, 2013

Article, Featured, Health and Fitness Programs, Scam Alerts

Is green coffee bean extract a scam, or will this popular diet product actually help you lose weight? Promoted by Dr. Oz and other celebrity health gurus, green coffee bean extract is another "natural" diet ...

You Are a Winner? Lottery Scams

September 3, 2013

Article, Listing Fraud, Scam Alerts

2

You hit the jackpot! Cha-ching! So many possibilities, so many boats to buy, so many… zeros! You can't wait to flip over your desk, quit your job, and go cash your giant cardboard check. But wait, when did y...

Photo of empty Tetra Pak shipping envelopes

Beware “Reshipping” Job Scam on Sites like Craigslist, LinkedIn and CareerBuilder

September 3, 2013

Article, Featured, Scam Alerts

3

Are you looking for part-time employment or a work-from-home job? If so, you may be at risk for a new Internet employment scam. Criminals are using job sites like Craigslist, LinkedIn and CareerBuilder to post ...

Famous 419 Nigeria: Enough Said