Fraud Awareness
Date:
11/12/2008Summary:
The Yuma Police Department would like to provide the public and local businesses some tips to combat fraud.Contact:
The Yuma Police Department would like to provide the public and local businesses some tips to combat fraud. The department would urge the public and local businesses to be aware of fraud and educate themselves about this type of activity. Awareness and education can be used as tools to help combat fraud.
People can become a victim of a fraud scheme by many tactics, but some common uses are by phone, e-mail or mail. Victims will be notified that they have won a free prize. Usually, it's a postcard notice, e-mail or a phone call that says that you won a lottery, a new car, a television, or another expensive item. Major companies sometimes give away expensive items in special promotions, but not if you have not entered such a contest.
Businesses may fall victim to credit card fraud over the phone dealing with somebody they do not personally know or do not have proper identification.
These phone calls, e-mails and postcards may be a fraud scheme, usually to con you out of your money.
Be suspicious if:
- The company has a name that is intended to sound like a government agency or a well-known company.
- Someone claims you've won a prize and you haven't entered a contest.
- Someone asks for your credit card number to qualify you for a prize.
- A telemarketer asks for your social security number so you can purchase products or qualify for prizes.
- You have to pay a fee or provide your bank account information before you receive complimentary goods or services.
- Someone wants to purchase goods by credit card over the phone, internet or other electronic device (not in person).
- You must act on the offer the same day or as soon as possible.
- You receive a check for a larger amount than the sold item, and are being requested to send the remaining balance minus your payment to another person via Western Union or Money Gram.
- Never play a foreign lottery by phone, mail or internet. It is against Federal law and increases your risk of falling victim to the scam.
Some tips are:
- Use common sense.
- Do not trust a stranger.
- If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is.
- Wait for check, money order, or transaction to be cleared by your bank before sending any money to the unknown person for any reason.
- Check identification.
- Take the necessary steps to ensure the validity of the credit cards being used and transactions being attempted.
- Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
- Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller/company to see if the number is correct and working.
- For additional tips on fraud and identity theft contact some of these links:
Please note that the following link(s) are not part of the City of Yuma official website.- Federal Trade Commission at 202-326-2222 or http://www.ftc.gov/
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service at http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/
- Federal Bureau of Investigations at http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm
If someone is attempting to make purchases or tactics similar to those described above, contacts your business or home, contact the Yuma Police Department at 373-4700.
