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Top 10 Internet Scams.......
Internet Auctions
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Bait:
Shop in a "virtual marketplace" that offers a huge selection of products at great deals.
The Catch:
After sending their money, consumers say they’ve received an item that is less valuable than promised,
or, worse yet, nothing at all.
The Safety Net:
When bidding through an Internet auction, particularly for a valuable item, check out the seller
and insist on paying with a credit card or using an escrow service
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International Modem Dialing
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Bait:
Get free access to adult material and pornography by downloading a "viewer" or "dialer" computer program.
The Catch:
Consumers complained about exorbitant long-distance charges on their phone bill.
Through the program, their modem is disconnected, then reconnected to the Internet
through an international long-distance number.
The Safety Net:
Don’t download any program to access a so-called "free" service without reading
all the disclosures carefully for cost information. Just as important, read your
phone bill carefully and challenge any charges you didn’t authorize or don’t understand.
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Internet Access Services
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Bait:
Get free access to adult material and pornography by downloading a "viewer" or "dialer" computer program.
The Catch:
Consumers complained about exorbitant long-distance charges on their phone bill.
Through the program, their modem is disconnected, then reconnected to the Internet
through an international long-distance number.
The Safety Net:
Don’t download any program to access a so-called "free" service without reading
all the disclosures carefully for cost information. Just as important, read your
phone bill carefully and challenge any charges you didn’t authorize or don’t understand.
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Credit Card Fraud
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Bait:
Surf the Internet and view adult images online for free, just for sharing your credit card
number to prove you’re over 18.
The Catch:
Consumers say that fraudulent promoters have used their credit card numbers to run up charges
on their cards.
The Safety Net:
Share credit card information only when buying from a company you trust. Dispute unauthorized
charges on your credit card bill by complaining to the bank that issued the card. Federal
law limits your liability to $50 in charges if your card is misused.
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Web Cramming
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Bait:
Get a free custom-designed website for a 30-day trial period, with no obligation to continue.
The Catch:
Consumers say they’ve been charged on their telephone bills or received a separate invoice,
even if they never accepted the offer or agreed to continue the service after the trial period.
The Safety Net:
Review your telephone bills and challenge any charges you don’t recognize.
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Multilevel Marketing Plans and Pyramids
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Bait:
Make money through the products and services you sell as well as those sold
by the people you recruit into the program.
The Catch:
Consumers say that they’ve bought into plans and programs, but their customers
are other distributors, not the general public. Some multilevel marketing programs
are actually illegal pyramid schemes. When products or services are sold only to
distributors like yourself, there’s no way to make money.
The Safety Net:
Avoid plans that require you to recruit distributors, buy expensive inventory
or commit to a minimum sales volume.
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Travel and Vacation
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Bait:
Get a luxurious trip with lots of "extras" at a bargain-basement price.
The Catch:
Consumers say some companies deliver lower-quality accommodations and services
than they’ve advertised or no trip at all. Others have been hit with hidden charges
or additional requirements after they’ve paid.
The Safety Net:
Get references on any travel company you’re planning to do business with.
Then, get details of the trip in writing, including the cancellation policy, before signing on.
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Business Opportunities
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Bait:
Be your own boss and earn big bucks.
The Catch:
Taken in by promises about potential earnings, many consumers have invested in a "biz op" that
turned out to be a "biz flop." There was no evidence to back up the earnings claims.
The Safety Net:
Talk to other people who started businesses through the same company, get all the promises in writing,
and study the proposed contract carefully before signing. Get an attorney or an accountant to take a
look at it, too.
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Investments
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Bait:
Make an initial investment in a day trading system or service and you’ll quickly realize huge returns.
The Catch:
Big profits always mean big risk. Consumers have lost money to programs that claim to be able to predict
the market with 100 percent accuracy.
The Safety Net:
Check out the promoter with state and federal securities and commodities regulators, and talk to other people
who invested through the program to find out what level of risk you’re assuming.
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Health Care Products and Services
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Bait:
Items not sold through traditional suppliers are "proven" to cure serious and even fatal health problems.
The Catch:
Claims for "miracle" products and treatments convince consumers that their health problems can be cured.
But people with serious illnesses who put their hopes in these offers might delay getting the health care they need.
The Safety Net:
Consult a health care professional before buying any "cure-all" that claims to treat a wide range of ailments
or offers quick cures and easy solutions to serious illnesses.
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