Internet & Scams, like peanutbutter & jelly

There are many, many con-artists lurking the internet. Their level of sophistication has eclipsed the ubiquitous Nigeria Business Proposal e-mail.  Although we have learned to delete unsolicited emails, con-artists have adjusted their game plan.  Beginning with basic information that can be found on an internet phone database or in an article published online, a con artist can develop very sophisticated scam targeting specific people.  For example, inheritance scammers now research a person's genealogy to find a real relative on which they develop their charade.  These scammers will make personal phone calls and send counterfeit documents evidencing a large estate that has yet to be claimed.  What do they want?  They want two things.  First, they want personal forms of identification, your driver's license and passport, which they can use or sell.  Second, they want money, either directly or from your bank accounts.  The typical inheritance scam makes money by having you send a retainer to an attorney who is supposedly handling the estate.   

Scams like these work on the basic principal that you, as a good and smart person, are willing to pay money to help someone else or to help yourself.  No one is 100% immune to these scams.  Recently, con-artists have successfully targeted large law firms by posing as overseas clients.  The con-artist will send a large retainer or settlement check to be deposited into the trust account, and then promptly demand a refund.  Unfortunately, the cashiers check was a fake.

So, what do you do if you have fallen prey to scam? This depends on how much information you gave out.

• Social Security Number
• Check to see if your number is being used by someone else.  You can do this by contacting Social Security and requesting that they review your reported earnings.  Also, you can review the earnings reported on your annual Social Security statement. 
• If you find that your Social Security Number is being used by someone else, notify the Federal Trade Commission and file a compliant with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).
• As a last resort, you can ask Social Security to assign you a new number.  Because so many public and private institutions use your social security number as an identifier, changing your number may not solve your problems. 
• Banks Accounts
• If you have given out your bank account information, immediately notify your bank.  If possible, inform them of the date and amount of the last transaction you actually authorized.
• If your account has been tampered with, close the account and then open a new account.
• Place passwords on the new accounts that you open.
• If your social security number has also been stolen, contact the three consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Transunion) and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports.
• Credit Cards 
• As with your bank accounts, immediately contact the institutions which issued your credit cards.  
• The credit card company will then assign a new number to your account and issue you new cards. 
• If someone has used your personal information to have a credit card issued to them, then you need to file a complaint with your local police department for identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission, and notify the consumer credit reporting agencies.

With all of theses situations, closely monitor your account statements and report any irregularities to the corresponding institution.