I received a brochure from the US postal service that I thought I'd pass on. It contained good advice about detecting the signs of fraud and some tips. Here's the list,
courtesy of the USPS.
Sounds too good to be true.
Pressures you to act "right away!"
Guarantees success.
Promises unusually high returns.
Requires an upfront investment, even for a "free" prize.
Buyers want to overpay you for an item and have you send them the difference.
Doesn't have the look of a real business.
Something just doesn't feel right.
Never click on a link inside an email to visit a web site. Instead, type the address into your browser.
Verify an online company with the Better Business Bureau.
Review statements, receipts and packing slips for accuracy.
Shred confidential documents before trashing them.
Your bank will never email or call you for your account number.
Don't wire money to people you don't know.
Be cautious of work-at-home job offers.
There are no legitimate jobs that involve reshipping items or financial instruments from your home.
Foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. You can't win no matter what they say.
Check your monthly bank and credit card statements for charges you don't recognize.
-- Thomas Bulkowski
See Also
Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus once a year at https://www.annualcreditreport.com. It's free.