Are You Scam Savvy? Our Top Scams of 2011 to Look Out For – Part Two

Want more on the most common scams of 2011 and how to avoid them? Have a look at Part One in Are You Scam Savvy? Our Top Scams of 2011 to Look Out For from American Van Lines.

Phishing/Fraudulent Web Sites
Known as the most common modern day form of fraud, phishing is where the victim is attacked via the internet, tricked into divulging their passwords and personal information through fake websites and convincing e-mails. Often, these web threats resemble legitimate companies like real retail stores and even your bank. The e-mail the victim receives might tell them that they need to “confirm their identity” or that your account has been infiltrated by hackers and you need to enter otherwise confidential information to stop them. Whatever the story is, the victim is asked to then click on a link, leading to a fraudulent website. If you see these e-mails, report the phishing attempt and mark the message as spam, ensuring that you won't receive another one like it.


Overpayment on Items for Sale
Have you recently listed an item of yours for sale. Whether you've used Craigslist, an ad in the newspaper or made fliers to hang around your neighborhood, you can still be a potential victim. A con-artist will contact you, offering to pay much more for the item than it's worth. Whether you receive a check or a money order, the scammer will then ask you to simply give him or her the rest of the money in cash or by check. What you don't find out until later unfortunately, is that the check or money order is fake or it bounces, leaving you without the item you had for sale or the money you were promised for it. Are you moving? If so, you might find that you need to sell some of your belongings. If that's the case, have a garage sale or take your items with you! Don't risk being scammed by someone offering you a money order or a check and if you can, deal only in cash. Don't forget to check out our American Van Lines testimonials for your relocation and give us a call!

Job Search Overpayment
It seems like everyone is looking for a job these days and if you've posted your resume on a job employment site, watch out. You presumably have at least some personal information listed on the document and it can be dangerous. If you haven't already, you might receive an offer asking you to work as a “financial representative” for an overseas company. You'll be accepting money on behalf of the company because they can't, due to the fact that they're not headquartered in the country. You'll be offered anywhere from 5 to 15 percent commission and asked for your bank account number so you can begin work. The scammers won't waste any time in using your personal information for their own purposes and identity theft is most often the result.

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