Watch Out for Scams

In these days of rampant unemployment and desperation, there are plenty of people out there who are eager to find an answer. Too eager, in fact.

And many are easily tricked into handing over their money or compromising sensitive personal information.

Scams are as old as the existence of currency. But, thanks to the internet, 21st-century scam artists don't have to look for targets. Their targets are all too willing to come to them — and the beauty of it, for the scammers, is that they don't have to deal face to face with their victims. It can all be done in cyberspace.

So these scam artists are free to polish their pitches. And those pitches don't have to be too polished to work on people who have rarely, if ever, dealt with joblessness or the kinds of pressures that exist in today's economy. In the past, such scams often spiked during tax season or holidays, but in the current environment, they are constant threats — which means that honest consumers must be on their toes at all times.

A few days ago, ABC News warned consumers not to be fooled by "bogus web sites, hoaxes and other scams" that prey on the vulnerable.

R.M. Schneiderman of the New York Times recently reported receiving an e-mail that supposedly came from the Internal Revenue Service and reported a previously uncalculated tax refund was due to the recipient.

Schneiderman re-created the message in his article, then pointed out that it was, clearly, "some sort of fraud; the dot-com e-mail address it was sent from was a dead giveaway, not to mention the spelling errors, among other things."

But it's amazing how many people will overlook the obvious indicators of fraud when promised easy money.

As soon as some kind of loophole is discovered, these vultures swoop in to exploit it. Many loopholes are eventually closed, but it takes time. So the rules are constantly changing and, in addition to seeking a job or working harder to keep the one you have, it is essential to stay on top of the latest trends and developments.

It will protect both your money and your good name.

While it's important to remain abreast of the newest developments, there are a few general rules of thumb to follow:

• Be wary of any "work at home" site or a site that promises you access to information on government grants that require you to pay money up front.


• You should also be skeptical if you find an online job listing where important information is missing. If you see a job listing that doesn't identify the company or a contact, it may not be legitimate.


• For that matter, you should be suspicious of e-mails that may look like they come from legitimate sources but want you to provide personal information, such as your Social Security number or your bank account or credit card numbers.


• One of the oldest scams — the appeal of easy money — has been given a modern twist, thanks to the internet. Remember the rather unsophisticated tactic used in "The Sting," in which a man thought he was making "the world's easiest five grand" only to discover that the money he thought he was getting, along with his wallet, that had been wrapped in a handkerchief and stuffed — for what appeared to be only a couple of seconds — in Robert Redford's pants, had, in fact, been switched for a nearly identical bundle containing nothing but tissue paper?
  
  In the pre-internet days, the hand had to be quicker than the eye. Today, that is no longer necessary.
  
  "While their methods are different, their motives are all the same," reports KBTX in Bryan/College Station, Texas. "[T]hey dangle the carrot and hope we take a bite."
  
  And KBTX makes a worthwhile point about how to handle these e-mails — do nothing. "That means don't even open it or click on the link. Even if you're curious, authorities say it's best to resist the urge to investigate. Many of these con artists are very convincing and technically advanced. You have no idea what they can do to you if you give them half a chance."

So, don't give them half a chance.

If something raises red flags in your mind, check it out. The Internet Crime Complaint Center has information on scams and who to contact about them. The National Consumers League recently announced new resources to help people avoid scams, especially modern pyramid schemes.

And, whether you've been asked to pay money out of your own pocket to access supposedly lucrative "work-at-home" assignments or you're responding to a post from a company you've never heard of, take a few seconds to visit the Better Business Bureau.

For that matter, take advantage of any resource that is available to you. Do your homework.

And remember, the internet is virtually unregulated.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.