Mass Marketing, Mail, Wire, Telephone and Internet Fraud

Resources on How to Protect Yourself 
Related Organizations and Web Sites

Mass Marketing Frauds target individuals of all ages and walks of life. Victims are lured with false promises of significant cash prizes, goods, services, or good works, in exchange for up-front fees, taxes or donations.

Credit and loan fraud includes a variety of scams that target folks applying for credit and dealing with debt. Advance-fee loan scams involve charging an upfront fee to guarantee a credit card or loan before you apply. These offers are illegal and often target people with credit problems. Debt settlement scams include deceptive ads that promise debt relief, when in fact they are offering bankruptcy, and others that promise to negotiate with your creditors but take the money and run.

Mail fraud is an offense under US law, which refers to any scheme which attempts to unlawfully obtain money or valuables in which the postal system is used at any point in the commission of a criminal offense.

Resources on How to Protect Yourself

Email Scams

OnGuard Online, 2008

This web page lists important facts concerning email scams.

‘Free Government Grants’: Don’t Take Them for Grant-ed

Federal Trade Commission, September 2006

The FTC says following a few basic rules as not giving your banking information to someone you don’t know, can keep consumers from losing money to “government grant” scams. The page also provides information on who to contact for reporting or complaint purposes.

International Scams

OnGuard Online, May 2010

This web source provides quick facts about cross border or international scams.

Internet Fraud Prevention Tips

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Tips to protect yourself and your family from various forms of Internet fraud.

Mail Fraud Schemes

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Information on various mail fraud schemes including employment, sweepstakes, lottery and telemarketing.

Mystery Shopper Scam

U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 2009

A brief description of this type of fraud, how it works, and information on how to report.

The Secrets of Mystery Shopping Revealed

Federal Trade Commission, January 2009

A second brief description of the mystery shopper scam with tips for protecting yourself and information on where to go for help.

Consumer Fraud by Phone or Mail

U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Short brochure listing common fraudulent approaches, sample repercussions of falling for the deception, and how to report the crime.

 

Related Organizations and Web Sites

Delivering Trust

This U.S. Postal Inspection Service web site contains the latest news on fraud schemes and features online videos on each major type of fraud.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime.

National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home.

National Fraud Information Center

The mission of the National Fraud Information Center is to give consumers the information they need to avoid becoming victims of telemarketing and Internet fraud and to help them get their complaints to law enforcement agencies quickly and easily.

OnGuard Online

This Web site provides practical tips from the federal government and technology industry to help consumers guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect personal information.

U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)

The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to support and protect the U.S. Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers; enforce the laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use; and ensure public trust in the mail.

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