How to Avoid the 10 Worst Internet Scams in 2008

By Jim Lanford, ScamBusters.org

Most experts agree that 2007 was a record year for Internet scams, and 2008 will be even worse. However, Audri and Jim Lanford, co-directors of ScamBusters.org, explain that you don't have to take things lying down, or sitting down at your computer. InsBy Audri Lanford and Jim Lanford, co-directors of ScamBusters.org
Here is ScamBusters.orgs top 10 predictions of scams you may confront in 2008 and what you can do to avoid them.

10. A new category of scams. Its been several years since cyber-crooks invented an entirely new type of scam, so theyre overdue. We suspect this new category will most likely show up at the social networking sites. Their continuing and growing popularity makes them especially vulnerable.

Tip: Always keep your personal and financial information to yourself, including your name, address, phone number, social security number, credit card info and so on.

9. Pump and dump scams. By spreading "hot stock tips" via e-mail, speculators hope "investors" will pump up the value of certain securities—so they can then "dump" the stocks once prices rise (which then causes the values to plummet).

Tip: This scam is easy to avoid: Simply delete these e-mails and never follow their stock "advice."

8. Online dating scams. Lonely hearts sometimes agree to help people they meet at online dating sites financially or to subsidize a potential "mates" air fare to the United States, so they can meet the love of their life. Naturally, the scam artists simply pocket the money and "fares" and never make the planes.

Tip: Never send money to an online "lover" for any reason.

7. Spyware threats. There are a variety of ways to download spyware. In many cases, people infect their computers by visiting phony Web sites created by phishing scammers. (See #2.)

Tip: Dont click on links contained in an e-mail. Instead, enter the organizations URL yourself or click on a link supplied by a reliable search engine. Use a firewall and make sure you have up-to-date spyware and virus protection software.

6. Overpayment scams. There are many variants of this scam. Most frequently, the scammer sends his victim a check for MORE than the price of an item for sale (or rent) and then creates a reason to ask for a partial refund. The victim refunds the overpayment, but later discovers that the original check was worthless. You can find examples Internet scams here:

Tip: Make sure the buyers check is valid before refunding the difference. This can take many weeks with bogus overseas money orders, cashiers checks or bank checks.

5. Viruses, worms and Trojans. (See #7.)

4. Nigerian scams. No longer just from Nigeria, this is one of the oldest tricks in the book. A stranger sends an e-mail asking if youll accept an enormous sum of money—or a generous fee—for helping them with some financial transaction. The catch? There are always (many) fees or taxes that come up that you must pay.

Tip: Nobody ever gets something for nothing, but you can always get nothing for something. Delete these e-mails!

3. Lottery scams. These scams involve a notification that youve won a lottery (usually foreign) that you never entered. The more sophisticated scammers send a bogus check with the first part of your "winnings," tell you to cash it and then send them back money for fees and/or taxes. You find out weeks later that the initial check was counterfeit, and by then your money is long gone.

Tip: Delete these e-mails. Recognize that it is illegal for U.S. citizens to participate in international lotteries.

2. Phishing scams. You receive an e-mail from what looks like a trusted merchant or financial institution that promises a reward for clicking on a link in the e-mail, or warns of dire consequences for not doing so—often threatening to cancel your account. If you click on the link, however, youll be taken to a facsimile of the real companys site, where youll be asked to input personal and financial information that will help scammers steal your identity and/or "just" steal your money.

Tip: Delete these e-mails. If necessary, contact the actual company—by phone or by entering the URL yourself—to confirm whether the organization actually sent you the e-mail. You may also want to send a copy of the suspected scam e-mail to the company. The address is usually something like abuse@mybank.com.

1. Identity theft scams. Many of the scams listed above give criminals a chance to steal your identity. Whenever you give strangers sensitive personal or financial information, you open the door to identity theft. For example, phishing scams are one of the top ways that ID theft occurs online, but in the offline world—believe it or not—a friend, colleague or relative is probably the prime suspect.

Tip: Guard your personal and financial data—zealously! Many identity theft criminals have gotten quite sophisticated. Thats why weve created a free Identity Theft Information Center to help people protect themselves from identity theft.

Now that youre armed with some knowledge about the top 10 predicted Internet scams for 2008, we hope youll have a happy and scam-free New Year. And always remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information go to: www.scambusters.org/identitytheft.html.