Identity theft Articles - DailyFinance.com

The Super Bowl of Counterfeiting: Scammers Run Their Own Play Fakes for the Big Game

4:50PM 2/03/2012

The quantity of counterfeit goods entering the U.S. is increasing, and it gets worse around an event like the Super Bowl. Federal agents recently seized more than $6 million of counterfeits and shut down more than 300 illegal websites. But consumers are at risk for more than just getting a shoddy NFL jersey.

Valentine's Scams: Don't Be a Fool for Love Online

1:05PM 1/19/2012

By Dawn Kawamoto, The Motley Fool

Technology, Consumer Ally

Valentine's Day offers Internet con artists a great cover for their illegal craft: Using love as a lure, scammers sweet-talk their victims out of personal information the can use to rob you. Here's what you need to know to avoid falling for a fraud.

Tax Season, Scam Season: How to Avoid the Fake Refund Cons

2:30PM 1/06/2012

By Dawn Kawamoto, The Motley Fool

Taxes, Crime

Uncle Sam isn't the only one looking to collect from taxpayers this year: A rapidly growing number of Internet scammers are also using the guise of the IRS to siphon money out of consumers' pockets, security experts say.

Financial Scams 2012: The Latest Twists in the Ever-Evolving Art of the Con

7:00AM 1/05/2012

By Dawn Kawamoto, The Motley Fool

Consumer Ally, Crime

You're not going to fall for the old Nigerian prince scam anymore -- but the fraudsters know that, and they've moved on, too. Here are some financial scams that made the rounds in 2011 -- and will likely be back in some form this year.

Phishers Are Getting Smarter, But So Are the E-Cops

8:00AM 12/08/2011

By Jim Royal, The Motley Fool

Technology, Crime

Traditional phishing -- where hackers attempt to acquire personal data from individuals in hopes of defrauding them -- is bad enough. But even more alarming is the rise of a new kind of attack: "spear phishing."

Scammers, Not Soldiers: Internet Romance Cons Get a Military Twist

6:30AM 11/11/2011

By Loren Berlin

Crime

Each year, a disturbing number of women fall prey to fraudsters posing as U.S. servicemen, who woo them long-distance, then ask for cash. "A couple of years ago we were getting hundreds of calls a year about this scam," says Christopher Grey of the Army Criminal Investigation Command. "Now we get thousands."

15 Kinds of Insurance You May Not Need

6:00AM 11/11/2011

By Selena Maranjian, The Motley Fool

Insurance

It's bad enough that we fork over gobs of money for all kinds of necessities, such as our mortgage payments, groceries, gas, and electricity. But it's a real shame when we fork over dollars needlessly, buying things we don't need -- like many kinds of insurance.

Don't Get Scammed: Free Fraud Hotline Aims to Aid, Educate

7:00AM 11/08/2011

By Loren Berlin

Consumer Ally

This is International Fraud Awareness Week, when various companies and nonprofit organizations work to educate people about how to avoid becoming victims of financial fraud. And we need the help: Last year, American consumers lost more than $1.7 billion to financial scams.

Spotting Financial Scammers: A Guide to Common Cons

7:00AM 10/11/2011

By Loren Berlin

Consumer Ally, Crime

Even as many Americans struggle to make ends meet, scammers are plotting all sorts of sneaky ways to rob them of their money -- and in millions of cases, they succeed. When it comes to these cons, the best offense is a smart defense, so here's an intro course in how to spot the latest scams.

Dozens Indicted in Huge Identity Theft Scam

1:52PM 10/07/2011

By The Associated Press

Crime

Bank tellers, restaurant workers and other service employees in New York lifted credit card data from residents and foreign tourists as part of an identity theft ring that stretched to China, Europe and the Middle East and victimized thousands, authorities said Friday. In total, 111 people were...