scams

Facebook IPO Scammers Arrested

Federal officials in New Jersey have charged three men with scamming an investor in New Zealand into paying $3 million for Facebook shares he never received.

Is That Charity Street Canvasser Legit?

Most people wouldn't give their wallet to a stranger, but many people give charity street canvassers their personal and financial information. And that's not always wise.

Scammers Hacking Computers by Calling Victims on the Phone

It's the latest scam: A con artist calls your phone posing as a tech from a big computer company, and claims to have detected a virus on your computer. He (or she!) then asks for access to it in order to "help" you. Agree, and your troubles are just beginning.

Family Fraud: When Mom Steals Your Identity

Identity theft is bad enough when it's a stranger committing the crime. But it gets even more complicated when the perpetrator is a relative. And that scenario is far more common than you might guess.

12 Holiday Cyber Scams to Watch Out For

As more consumers pick up their smartphones and tablets to go holiday shopping, cyber crooks are trying just about everything to dupe them out of their hard-earned money. To keep you protected, we asked an online security expert to list the season's hottest scams and how to avoid them.

How to Avoid Home Repair Rip-Offs After Frankenstorm Passes

Experts predict the tab for Hurricane Sandy -- aka Frankenstorm -- will be in the billions of dollars. If your property gets damaged, proceed with caution: You don't want to get hit again, this time by home repair companies that jack up their prices, do a poor job, or walk away before the work is finished.

Six-Figure Scams Targeting Seniors On the Rise

Older Americans are under more financial pressure than ever. Unfortunately, scam artists are taking advantage of the sometimes desperate needs of seniors to boost their income, and victims have lost huge portions of their life savings as a result.

The 7 'Scammiest' Words on the Internet

Spend enough time surfing the Web, and you just might develop a sixth sense for scams. Sometimes it's a matter of a page that just doesn't look right, but often it's just a matter of spotting the words and phrases that tend to be pop up with great frequency on scam Web sites -- words like these.

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

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.

Financial Scams: The Latest Twists in the Art of the Con

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 E-Cops

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."

5 Scams You Shouldn't Fall For This Holiday Season

Despite a rough economy, Americans expect to spend 17% more than last year on holiday gifts. But with money tight for so many, it's more important than ever to be wary of scammers. Here are some of the most common scams you might encounter:

Don't Get Conned: Free Fraud Hotline Aids, Educates

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.

How to Avoid Becoming the Victim of Financial Fraud

As financial scams evolve to keep pace with the changing American economy, it is important that consumers educate themselves about common scams. Here are five steps you can take to avoid becoming the victim of financial fraud.

Spotting Financial Scammers: A Guide to Common Cons

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.

Weak Economy Is a Boom Time for Financial Scammers

Millions of Americans fall victim to financial scams every year, and since the downturn began, many of those cons have been tailored to lure those suffering the most in our shaky economy: work-at-home schemes, fake mortgage modification services, fraudulent job opportunities and a host of unpleasant others.

'I Was Scammed by Phone Crammers': True Stories

Cramming: It's a multibillion dollar con that cheats millions of Americans every year. But because it uses small charges, hidden as deceptively legit sounding fees embedded on phone bills, victims may not notice for months or years. DailyFinance readers share how they got scammed -- and how they fought back.

Waiting to Inherit: Not a Sound 'Financial Plan'

An estimated two-thirds of baby boomer households will receive an inheritance at some point, with a median amount of $64,000, according to an AARP study. I recently received an email from a reader who has fallen deeply into debt in anticipation of her legacy -- and is now worried that her bailout may not be at hand.

Don't Get Ripped Off on Post-Irene Home Repairs

The estimated tab for Hurricane Irene's fury is already in the billions of dollars. If you're among those who have property damage, proceed with caution -- you don't want to get hit again, this time by home repair companies that jack up their prices, do a poor job, or walk away before the work is finished.