LibGuides: Avoiding Scams, Frauds, and Cons: Research Guide Home

How to Spot a Con

Common Fraud Schemes
A list of some of the most common scams that the FBI investigates and tips to help prevent you from being victimized.
Consumer Information
Learn how to avoid rip-offs and exercise your consumer rights.
Fighting Fraud: U.S. Senate Aging Committee Identifies Top 10 Scams Targeting Our Nation’s Seniors [.pdf]
U.S. Senate. Read this report compiled by Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME) and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) for tips on fighting fraud.

Credit Freeze Information

Free Credit Freezes Federal Trade Commission blog (06.07.2018)
by Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Attorney, FTC

Looking for stronger ways to protect your credit? Thanks to a new federal law, soon you can get free credit freezes and year-long fraud alerts. Here’s what to look forward to [since the law took effect] on September 21st:

Free credit freezes
Free child credit freezes
Year-long fraud alerts

Go to: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (See Title III, Section 301)

Telephone Robocalls

National Do Not Call Registry
"Maybe you’ve gotten one — you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person. Internet-powered phone systems have made it cheap and easy for scammers to make illegal sales robocalls from anywhere in the world. Fortunately, you have some options to block robocalls and other unwanted calls." ‘Tis the season for stopping robocalls by Ari Lazarus, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC.

Some tips:
- Do not give out your phone number except to people you know.
- Do not answer calls from numbers you don't recognize.
- If you do answer a robocall, do not press a button to "opt out"-- that only confirms that your number is active and further targets you. Do not say "yes"; do not answer any questions. Just hang up.
- If your phone has the option, take a moment to block unwanted numbers.
- Register your phone number(s) with the National Do Not Call Registry. Note: this will not stop calls from charities, bill collection agencies, etc. But telemarketers that do call illegally may be reported to the FTC by calling 1-888-382-1222.

Fraud Alerts

https://ncdoj.gov/newsroom/enewsletter-subscription/
North Carolina Department of Justice: sign up to receive scam alerts and newsletters in your email.
Aging and Adult Services
NC Department of Health & Human Services. Provides help finding senior services, and avoiding fraud.
Tax Fraud
IRS: Learn about current tax scams.

Citation

Author: Gaston County Public Library
Title: Avoiding Scams, Frauds, and Cons
URL: https://gastonlibrary.libguides.com/scams
Revised: 7 July 2020

Avoiding Scams, Frauds, and Cons

Ready Reference

Debt Collection Scams (CFPB)

Check Out @ Your Library

How to Spot a Con

Credit Freeze Information

Telephone Robocalls

Fraud Alerts

Citation