Knowing how fraud happens helps you make sure it doesn’t. When committing fraud, criminals often try to trick their victim by making threats or promising a big reward. To avoid becoming a victim, make sure you know how these common scams work: Advance-Fee Scam For this fraud, commonly known as a “Nigerian prince scam,” a criminal promises a cut of a large fortune in exchange for assistance in getting a fictitious sum of money out of a foreign country. Such a scam often requires money from the victim, as well as disclosure of bank account information into which the “fortune” will be wired. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. IRS Scam Individuals are contacted by a criminal impersonating an IRS agent, who claims they owe back taxes. The impersonator provides payment instructions and explains that the payment must be made immediately in order to avoid additional fines, assets seizure, and arrest. In the most common scenario, the impersonator pressures the victim into purchasing money cards to send as payment. Online Marketplace Scam When selling merchandise over eBay or other online marketplaces, beware of any purchaser who wants to pay you more than your asking price. A fraudster may offer to pay substantially more and ask you to wire the overpayment elsewhere. When the purchaser’s check is returned as counterfeit, you’ll be left responsible for a large bank overdraft in addition to your stolen property.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker