FBI scam schemes

[Eugen]

FBI scam schemes: educational program and guide to action

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation website has provided a list of common schemes by which scammers work. It is based on materials investigated by the FBI, but this does not mean that this list is not suitable for Ukrainian realities.

Quite the contrary - the generalizations provided are very useful for everyone to read, regardless of the country in which they live. After all, everyone watches TV, receives mail, uses passports and credit cards, and each of these things can be chosen by scammers for their own benefit.

Telemarketing Fraud

When you send money to people you don’t know personally, or submit personal information to unknown people who call you on the phone, your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing scams increase.

Here are some phrases that can signal that a fraudster is talking to you:

• “You must act now, because later the offer will not be so profitable”

• “You won a“ free “gift, ticket, or prize.” But provided that you pay for its delivery or other costs.

• “You must send money, provide a credit card or your account number, or pay the check that the courier will bring.” You will hear this before you have a chance to think carefully about this proposal.

• “You do not need to discuss this decision with anyone.” Callers will convince you that you don’t need to consult with anyone, including your family member, lawyer, accountant, or consumer protection agency employee.

• “You will not need any written information about our company or its characteristics.”

• “You must not miss this great offer.”

If you hear these, or similar phrases from a seller offering their services over the phone, just say “no, thank you” and hang up.

Tips to avoid getting into such situations.

• Do not buy anything from an unfamiliar company. A legitimate business is aware that you will need additional information about it.

• Always ask and wait until you are provided with written information about any proposal and charity. If you have come across investment brochures, ask someone you trust to advise you on the financial side. But be careful - not everything that is written on paper is true.

• Always check unfamiliar companies through local consumer protection agencies, the Attorney General's Office, or other monitoring organizations. True, not all dishonest companies can be identified through these organizations.

• Ask the seller for his name, identity card, phone number, address where he lives, an address where he can be written, and a business license number before you make a purchase or transfer money. Some scammers use fictitious names, phone numbers, addresses, and license numbers. You need to make sure of their veracity.

• Before you give money to charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money will go to the commission, and which - will really go to charity or investment.

• Before sending money, ask yourself a simple question: “What is the guarantee that this person uses the money for what we agreed on?”

• Do not pay in advance for services. Pay them only after they are provided.

• Be careful with companies that want to send someone to your home for money and try to convince you that this is part of their service. In fact, they are trying to take your money without leaving any information about themselves or where to find them.

• Never rush into a decision. Legitimate companies will not put pressure on you in such cases.

• Do not pay for the “free prize”. If the caller tells you that you must pay the costs, he or she is breaking the law.

• Discuss large investments offered over the phone with a trusted friend, family member, or financial adviser. The request to wait and reflect on the proposal is never rude.

• Never respond to a proposal whose essence is not clear to you.

• Never send money, do not provide personal information, such as: credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, birthdays, or social security numbers, to unfamiliar companies or individuals.

• Be aware that your personal information is often shared with telemarketers by third parties.

• If you once got caught in a scam, beware of people who may call you to restore your losses for a fee.

• If you have information about fraud, report it to state or local agencies.

Nigerian Letters, or 419 Fraud

"Nigerian letters" - a common type of fraud, which has received the greatest development with the advent of mass mailings by e-mail (spam). The letters were named so because this type of fraud was especially widespread in Nigeria, and even before the spread of the Internet, when such letters were distributed by regular mail. But Nigerian letters come from other African countries, as well as from cities with a large Nigerian diaspora (London, Amsterdam, Madrid, Dubai). Mailing began in the mid-1980s. and the operation of this scheme continues to this day.

As a rule, scammers ask the recipient of a letter of assistance in multi-million dollar money transactions, promising substantial interest on the amounts. If the recipient agrees to participate, large sums of money are allegedly being deceived from him, supposedly to complete transactions, pay fees, bribes to officials, and then fines.

As soon as the victim ceases to send money, the recipients begin to use her personal information and the checks they received to continue to pump money from the victim's bank accounts and cards. Despite the fact that for many law-abiding citizens this type of fraud seems ridiculous, millions of dollars were lost as a result of the “Nigerian letters”. Some victims are even lured to Nigeria, where they are sent to prison. These schemes violate article 419 of the Nigeria criminal code, which is why they are called “419 fraud”.

Tips for not becoming a victim of "Nigerian letters":

• If you receive a letter from Nigeria asking for personal information or bank account information, do not reply in any way. Send a letter to law enforcement.

• If you know someone who responds to such emails, persuade them to contact law enforcement as soon as possible.

• Be skeptical of individuals who introduce themselves as Nigerians or official representatives of a foreign government and ask for your help in depositing large amounts of money in foreign bank accounts.

• Do not believe the promises that you will receive a lot of money for your cooperation.

• Keep information about your accounts.

Identity theft

Identity theft is a crime in which the theft of your personal data is committed in order to commit fraud or another crime. Criminals can get your data from a variety of sources, including stealing your wallet, digging in your garbage, or exposing your credit or bank information to risk. They can reach you in person, by phone or on the Internet to ask you for this information.

There are so many sources of information about you that you cannot prevent identity theft. But you can minimize the risks of losing it by following these tips:

• Never throw away credit cards, loan agreements or bank accounts.

• Do not provide your credit card number unless you are calling.

• Check your bank account monthly, and notify the bank of non-compliance.

• Keep a list of phone numbers where you will need to call in case your wallet, credit card is lost or stolen, and so on.

• Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and police as soon as you become aware of them.

• Each year, study a copy of the statement from your credit account. If you have questions, write inquiries to the credit bureau until they answer you.

• If your identity was assigned by someone, ask the credit bureau to write about this in your credit report.

• If you know someone who receives letters from credit companies or banks from a stranger, report it to law enforcement.

Pyramids

In this scheme, new victims are attracted due to the fact that there are already old ones who have invested money in the pyramid and supposedly confirming its legality. The pyramids also practice the “recruitment” of new victims by the old, who are even paid a certain commission for this.

Financial pyramids - a fraud in which a person is invited to invest in some kind of project. At the same time, the company receives income from this project through the sale of a manufactured product, and through investments of new investors. In the end, the pyramid breaks up. The main feature of this scheme is to attract more and more investors. The pyramid promoters do not tell the participants that it is mathematically impossible - everyone can make a profit, because if some participants drop out, others come in their place, and the number of victims of the pyramid is constantly growing.

Tips to avoid falling into the financial pyramids:

• Be careful when you hear about opportunities to invest your money in franchises or projects that require you to attract new investors in order to increase your own income.

• Always find evidence of the legitimacy of any franchise or project before making an investment.

These are a few common schemes that scammers work on. It must be remembered that almost all the schemes by which these criminals work are similar to each other - fraudsters work on trust, assuming that you will not check information about them, and on the desire to earn money, almost without leaving home. Free cheese happens only in a mousetrap, the legality of which must be checked through the appropriate authorities

Nadezhda Bylina, “Argument”

 

[Матушкин Андрей Николаевич]

Thanks for working on the Forum.

 

[Плотников Юрий Михайлович]

Thank!

 

[Марат]

Thank!

 

[Арсен]

Thank!

 

[Хагани]

thank

 

[Краев Евгений Леонидович]

Thanks, useful generalization!

 

[Турабян Владимир]

THANK!

 

[Александра]

Thanks for the info!