Frauds & Scams

Have you been the victim of a scam? How would you know? What should you do?

In this economy, the amount of people running scams have hit an all-time high. They seem to come at you from all angles - fraudulent internet sales, door-to-door sales, fake charities, lotteries, sweepstakes ... you name it and there's likely a scam for it. What's worse, many scam artists are overseas which makes them immune to prosecution in the US.

Many may think, "how could someone fall for a scam?" But sadly, many fall victim to scam artist and lose thousands in the process. So what should you do if you become a victim?

First things first ... IMMEDIATELY stop contact with the scam artists. Scam artists are masters at what they do and generally try to take you for every dime you've got, so you must break contact as soon as you realize a scam is in progress.

Second - you should notify your local police department, the FBI, and the Office of the Attorney General. It is critical that you start an investigation as soon as possible. When you contact these agencies, you should be prepared to offer proof of the fraud by handing over copies of any correspondence you have received from the scam artists, receipts or statements of how much you have sent, and any contact information you have for the scam artists.

Third - don't fall for another scam! Believe it or not, there are scam artists who claim to be from a governmental agency and will approach you to "assist" you in recovering your money. Of course this is done for a fee. DON'T believe them and don't give them a dime! It is likely that your money will not be recovered. In any case, a government agency most likely is not going to charge you to recover what was stolen from you.

Your best defense is education. Make wise decisions and reduce the likelihood that you will fall victim to a scam. For more information visit the Office of the Attorney General.