Every day, American consumers receive offers that just sound too good to be true. In the past, these offers came through the mail or by telephone. Now con artists and swindlers have found a new avenue to pitch their frauds — the Internet. The online scams know no national borders or boundaries; they respect no investigative jurisdictions. But, as with all scammers, they have one objective — to separate you from your money!
Hanging up the phone or not responding to shady mailings or emails makes it difficult for the scammer to commit fraud. But con artists are very persuasive, using all types of excuses, explanations, and offers to lead you — and your money — away from common sense.
Looks Too Good To Be True.com was developed to arm you with information so you don't fall victim to these Internet scam artists. Education, good judgment, and a healthy dose of skepticism are the best defenses against becoming a victim. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
The Looks Too Good To Be True.com website was developed and is maintained by a joint federal law enforcement and industry task force. Funding for the site has been provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Cybercriminals can prey on the elderly, unemployed, lonely and unsuspecting.
Internet fraud can include: counterfeit money orders, charity fraud, cross-border fraud, romance schemes, advanced fee scams, debt elimination, investment frauds, job scams, Nigerian "4-1-9" scams, ponzi and pyramid schemes, identity fraud, and lottery and sweepstakes fraud, among others.
Always be careful to whom you give personal information and where you post information. Use passwords that have no relation to you, never use your phone number, date of birth, etc. Change your password frequently and NEVER give it out. Try to avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
If you are the victim of an Internet scam, or if you are aware of an attempted crime, you can file a complaint. Be sure to include as much information as possible about yourself (i.e., name, email address, mailing address, etc.), the perpetrator, and the Internet crime that you are reporting in order to expedite your complaint.
Multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies work together to investigate and prosecute Internet fraud, report cybercrime to:
Federal Trade Commission – http://www.ftc.gov/
FBI – http://www.fbi.gov/
Internet Crime Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
United States Postal Inspection Service for cybercrimes involving mail fraud – https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx
For more information, go to: http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/fraud.aspx.