how to Avoid Fraud

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http://live.pirillo.com/ - Chris got a spam voicemail and it brought up the subject of scams and how to avoid them in the chat room.

Never send someone money unless you are the one that initiated the transaction, and even then make sure you double and triple check everything.

If you're involved in some kind of transaction and it doesn't feel right to you, then avoid it.

If you don't understand a lot about the Internet and how things work online, ask someone who does.

Remember, scams try to play on your emotions - both good and bad - and try to force you into the scam. Try to step away from the emotion of the situation and think about it logically.

LooksTooGoodToBeTrue is run by the FBI and has a lot of helpful tips and suggestions for the various types of fraud out there.

Every day, American consumers receive offers that just sound too good to be true. In the past, these offers came through the mail or by telephone. Now the con artists and swindlers have found a new avenue to pitch their frauds — the Internet. The on-line scams know no national borders or boundaries; they respect no investigative jurisdictions. But, as with all scammers, they have one objective — to separate you from your money!

The Snopes Fraud Squad as a page detailing some of the common (and uncommon) scams you may run across.

The schemes of those intent upon separating you from your money are many and varied. In this section you will find descriptions of actual con games you need to be wary of falling victim to.

Do you have any tips or websites you visit to help you determine if something is a scam?

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