With the struggling economy, layoffs and unemployment rates at an all time high, it is more important than ever to be prepared and aware of criminal scams. There are several types of scams and illegal schemes that have the immediate appearance of a legitimate opportunity or simple transaction. If you own a computer, mailbox, home or cellular telephone, you could become a victim if you are not prepared and aware. Your best defense to not become a victim is to recognize a scam when you see or hear of one and to be suspicious of anything that sounds too good to be true.

The South Jordan Police Department has included some basic information on examples of prevalent scams investigated by law enforcement. We intend to profile specific scams periodically throughout the year, with in-depth information, tips on how to identify scams and to avoid being victimized, reporting strategies to proper authorities and direction for recovery should you become a victim.

Advance Fee Scheme: Occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return. These may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities."

Phishing: Occurs when you get an email or pop-up message on your computer saying your account must be updated immediately or it will be closed. You click on a link to a website that looks like it belong to your bank or other institution and "update" your account by entering personal identifying information.

Telemarketing Fraud: Often involves offers of prizes, low-cost vitamins, health care products, travel offers, etc. Criminals use lines like, "you must act 'now' or the offer won't be good," "you've won a free gift, vacation, or prize." But you have to pay for "postage and handling" or other charges.

Overpayment Scams: Occurs when you advertise something you want to sell, and a potential buyer offers to purchase it. The buyer sends a check for more than the asking price and asks you to wire back the difference. You do, but later the buyer's check bounces, and you have lost the overage amount you have repaid to the buyer.

Impersonation/Identity Fraud: Occurs when someone assumes your identity to perform a fraud or other criminal act. Criminals can get the information they need to assume your identity from a variety of sources, such as the theft of your wallet, your trash, or from credit or bank information. They may approach you in person, by telephone, or on the internet and ask you for the information.

Work-At-Home Scams: Becomes more prevalent as unemployment rates increase. Victims are often hired to "process payments," "transfer funds" or "reship products." These job scams involve the victims receiving and cashing fraudulent checks, transferring illegally obtained funds for the criminals, or receiving stolen merchandise and shipping it to the criminals.
Other victims sign up to be a "mystery shopper" and receive fraudulent checks with instructions to cash the checks and wire the funds to "test" a company's services. Victims are told they will be compensated with a portion of the merchandise or funds.
Work-at-home schemes attract otherwise innocent individuals and cause them to become part of criminal schemes without realizing they are engaging in illegal behavior.
Job scams often provide criminals the opportunity to commit identity theft when victims provide their personal information, sometimes even bank account information to their potential "employer." The criminal/employer can then use the victim's information to open credit cards, post on-line auctions, register Web sites, etc., in the victim's name to commit additional crimes.
For more information regarding financial scams and fraud, log on to www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm, www.ic3.gov or www.ncpc.org/publications/brochures/technology or contact the South Jordan Crime Prevention Unit at (801) 254-4708. *All information was gathered from the above-mentioned websites.