Internet Crime Schemes - from Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

[The Straight Story]

Internet Crime Schemes

Current and ongoing Internet trends and schemes identified by the Internet Crime
Complaint Center along with its description:



* Auction Fraud
* Auction Fraud — Romania
* Counterfeit Cashier's Check
* Credit Card Fraud
* Debt Elimination
* Parcel Courier Email Scheme
* Employment/Business Opportunities
* Escrow Services Fraud
* Identity Theft
* Internet Extortion
* Investment Fraud
* Lotteries
* Nigerian Letter or "419"
* Phishing/Spoofing
* Ponzi/Pyramid
* Reshipping
* Spam
* Third Party Receiver of Funds

Auction Fraud




Auction fraud involves fraud attributable to the misrepresentation of a product
advertised for sale through an Internet auction site or the non-delivery of products
purchased through an Internet auction site.



Consumers are strongly cautioned against entering into Internet transactions with
subjects exhibiting the following behavior:


* The seller posts the auction as if he resides in the United States, then responds
to victims with a congratulatory email stating he is outside the United States for
business reasons, family emergency, etc. Similarly, beware of sellers who post the
auction under one name, and ask for the funds to be transferred to another individual.
* The subject requests funds to be wired directly to him/her via Western Union, MoneyGram,
or bank-to-bank wire transfer. By using these services, the money is virtually unrecoverable
with no recourse for the victim.
* Sellers acting as authorized dealers or factory representatives in countries where
there would be no such dealers should be avoided.
* Buyers who ask for the purchase to be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs
or taxes inside another country should be avoided.
* Be suspect of any credit card purchases where the address of the card holder does
not match the shipping address. Always receive the card holder's authorization before
shipping any products.





If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report
it, please file a complaint
with us.


http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx

(Full definition for each at link above)