10 most dangerous types of fraud in the US and how to protect yourself

In 2018, the most fraud was recorded in the employment sector, reports the Business Improvement Bureau. Based on information provided by the spokesperson of the Bureau, Katherine Hutt, edition Fox News compiled a list of the most dangerous types of fraud found in the US of 10, and also gave tips on how to protect yourself from them.

Фото: Depositphotos

1. Labor market fraud

In 2018, it was the most common type of fraud. If you are applying for a job, then make sure that you use the official website of the company. Do not follow the links of vacancies that come in emails or messages in social networks. This type of fraud is considered dangerous, since the victim shares all his personal information: his address, his birthday, his social insurance number and his bank account.

This type of fraud is also used to cover scams related to fake accounts.

“They will hire you. They will pay you your first salary. And then you will be asked to use some of the money for some other purpose, such as buying equipment or paying a commission. Then it turns out you were given a fake invoice,” says Hutt.

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2. Online shopping

Fraudsters often fake official websites of companies. The consumer opens the site, thinking that he is on the site of the company store, but instead buy a cheap fake or do not receive the goods at all.

“The best way to prevent online fraud is to do your research and understand who you are buying from. Do some research, especially if this is your first time purchasing from this site. Be careful when following links. And pay attention to things that sound too good to be true,” Hutt said.

3. Fake checks / money orders

You sell a car, bed or some other big item on Craigslist. The buyer sends you a check in excess of the amount you both agreed on. Later he apologizes and asks for the difference back. You send the money, and after a few days you will find out that the initial check was false, and you do not have the money sent in your account.

“It can sometimes take ten days to two weeks for a check or money order to clear. Therefore, it is very important, if you find yourself in this situation, not to send anything to anyone until you are sure that the money from the buyer has actually arrived. Otherwise, you will be required to cover these costs. You will have to pay for any overdraft that will be on your account,” says the expert.

4. Home Improvement

A man knocks on your door and says that he is working at a construction site near you. He says that he still has household goods that were not useful to him, and he is ready to sell them to you at a bargain price. You pay a deposit. He says he will come back with the goods, but he no longer comes.

Hutt says a little learning can save you from a headache.

“When you're remodeling a home, you really want to make sure that the person doing the renovations has the right license, the proper training and the right permits,” she says.

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5. Advance loans

In the case of a loan with an advance payment, the lender approves your loan and then asks you to pay a commission before you receive the money.

“It's usually illegal. Any time someone wants to take money from you before they give you money, that's almost always a red flag that it's a scam,” says Hutt.

6. Romantic scams

Romantic scams hunt for people's emotions. Fraudsters turn to unsuspecting people on dating sites and social networks and quickly develop what looks like a real relationship.

“The biggest difference with a real relationship is that you never meet your romantic partner. One of two things happens. They are abroad and their passport or wallet has been stolen. They then ask you to transfer money to them,” Hutt explains.

Sometimes fraudsters may be asked to pick up and transfer money for them.

“They say they are getting money from some other source and they need you to take it and then transfer it to them. Essentially, this is money laundering. They use you as a money mule to reduce the likelihood of money being traced. If you suspect something is wrong but do it anyway, you could be prosecuted,” says Hutt.

7. Fraud under the guise of technical support

Thieves disguising themselves as Apple, Google or Microsoft can notify you via a pop-up window or via email that something is wrong with your computer. Fraudsters can also impersonate the personnel department or IT department of your employer. In the letters sent to you, they are trying to force you to click on a link or subscribe to something.

If you suspect that you have encountered fraudsters, then Hutt recommends that you contact your Internet service provider, support service or your employer via a communication channel that you are exactly known to be the right one.

“They often ask for payment for a repair plan or maintenance contract. In some more nefarious cases, they download malware onto your computer that basically locks your computer and then hold the information on it while demanding a ransom from the owner. This is called extortion. They say that if you don't pay a certain amount, they will delete all your files,” says Hutt.

8. Investment scams

Investment scammers pretend to work in a well-known financial company. As soon as they make friends with you, they tell you about investments that you simply cannot miss.

“They try to force you to make a decision before you have had time to think or consult with a family member, friend or financial advisor. Check the investment before agreeing. Check the person who is asking you to invest. The information you need can be found, for example, at FINRA, the financial industry regulator,” Hutt notes.

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9. Travel scams

If it sounds too good to be true, most likely it is not true. Scammers will try to sell you an all-inclusive package, hotel, resort or cruise vacation at the best price.

"If the price is significantly lower than other sites, it's definitely worth doing your research before clicking 'Yes' and giving anyone your credit card information," the expert says.

10. Fraud under the guise of government grants

The government will not give you grant money if you have not applied for them. If you received an e-mail or phone call saying that you are eligible for a grant from a government agency, Hutt says this is most likely a fraud.

“It's easy to fake a program that looks like one you've heard of before. In the case of government grants, we see scammers following the news. It's worth being aware of any programs that have been in the news recently,” says Hutt.

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