====Consumer Affairs Top Ten Scams of 2007====
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1. Weight Loss Scams
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^With
America's mushrooming obesity problem, perhaps it's only natural that
scammers would dream up all manner of bogus weight loss schemes, in an
effort to separate overweight Americans from their money. In 2007 there
seemed to be no limit to how outlandish these scams could be.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2. Work At Home Scams
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^The
unemployment rate may be low, but Americans increasingly long to fire
their boss, bail out of the rat race and work from home. That mood set
up one of this year's ripest growth areas for scammers marketing bogus
"business opportunities" and work at home schemes. According to an FTC
survey, many victims fell for more than one of these scams.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3. Fake Lottery Scams
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This
scheme, which topped our list in 2006, falls to number three this year,
but continues to claim thousands of victims who have lost millions of
dollars. Canadian scammers this year came up with something new -- a
phony lottery in which "winners" are chosen from among local utility
company customers.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4. Craigslist Scam
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This
one could also be called the Thrifty Nickel Scam, or classified ad
scam, but with craigslist becoming the classified ad medium of choice,
the online service is also becoming the scammer's vehicle of choice.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5. Computer Lay-Away Scams
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^If
you were new to the world of personal computers, you might be unaware
that prices for PCs have been tumbling, and that complete systems start
around $500. If you had poor or no credit, you might be sucked into a
scheme to sell you a computer for more than $2,000 - and not send it to
you until you had made several months worth of payments. Or maybe, not
ever send it to you at all! Welcome to the world of Blue Hippo,
Financing Alternatives and their imitators.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6. We'll Buy Your Home Scams
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^With
2007's subprime mortgage mess and escalating foreclosures, there's a
lot of desperation out there among some homeowners. There's also no
shortage of shady characters hoping to get rich off this misery - from
mortgage rescue operations to teaser rate mortgage hustlers.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7. IRS Phishing Scams
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^For
the last few years, identity thieves have used spam "phishing" emails
to trick people into revealing social security numbers and other
sensitive information. While more people have become savvy to these
ubiquitous emails, allegedly from banks and credit card companies, in
2007 scammers found a sure fire way to get their emails noticed. Hardly
anyone, they discovered, disregards a notice from the feared Internal
Revenue Service.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8. Unauthorized Billing Schemes
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Judging
by our mail, nothing infuriates consumers more than this scam. Even if
the monetary loss is only $9.95, the fact that a business would think
it could hit your credit card without your informed consent simply
drives people up the wall. As well it should.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
9. Military Spouse Scam
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This
one makes our list, not because it's all that widespread, but because
it's particularly despicable. The scammer - who sounds young and
American - calls a military spouse and identifies herself as a
representative from the Red Cross. The caller says that the spouse's
mate, who is not identified by name, was hurt while on duty in Iraq and
was med-evacuated to a hospital in Germany.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
10. E-Card Greeting Scam
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^You open your email and there's one of those clever E-Card Greetings.
The greeting looks real enough. It is an exact replica of a Hallmark
E-Card, or one from MyPostcards.com or a number of other sites that
provide animated email greetings.
For more Info Go To:
http://www.squidoo.com/websitescammers