Scams, Swindles, Frauds and Hoaxes

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If it looks too good to be true, it probably is...

Do any of these scenarios look familiar?

• You're told you've won a prize in an overseas lottery (but you dont' remember entering...)
• You're offered a share of millions of dollars, just for allowing it to pass through your bank account....
• You're offered a "business opportunity" too good to refuse - why would you pass up the chance to be rich?
• You're told you can earn money or goods or support a charity just by forwarding an email to all your friends...

These offers look too good to be true, and they often are - how can you find the information that will arm  you against the scammers and swindlers wiles? 

Want a quick tour of the best sites for identifying scams, swindles, frauds and hoaxes? Check out our recent powerpoint presentation!

Complete Listing of Scams

Here are some internet and print resources that will help you keep your money out danger...

Print resources

• The Little Black Book of Scams - a Consumers Guide to Scams, Swindles, Rorts and Rip-Offs
  A joint Commonwealth, State and Territory publication. Print and online copies are available from the ACCC.
  
  
• Scams and Swindlers - Investment Disasters and How to Avoid them - True Stories from ASIC / by Bruce Brown
  True stories of and how to avoid commercial crimes and fraud in Australia.

Other Information Resources

Government

• MoneySmart (ASIC) The Australian Securities and Investments Commission consumer website provides in-depth information about common scams and swindles including warnings about: Investment seminars, Cold calling and phone scams, Scams and swindlers, including the famous Nigerian letter scams.
  
  
• WA ScamNET  WA Department of Commerce scam information site. Read through the Complete Listing of Scams for details of current and past scams. They are also publishers of the Little Black Book of Scams.
  
  
• SCAMWatch Prepared by the Australian Government in collaboration with fair trading and consumer protection agencies across Australia.

• OnGuard Online  US Federal Government site providing practical tips to help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer and protect your personal information.
  
  
• Examples of Known Phoney Securities  US Treasury site identifying (with images) known phoney US securities.

Internet 

• Google Directory Fraud Site Listings
  Google directory list of many sites providing information on frauds and scams.
  
  
• Mailfrontier Field Guide to Phishing
  Clear, concise explanations of sneaky, dangerous phish (fradulent emails that endeavour to get you to part with passwords and banking details) that may find their way to your computer.
  
  
• Inboxer Rebellion
  A great site for identifying email scams, frauds and hoaxes, part of the excellent Urban Legends reference pages.
  
  
• Jenman Ethics in Real Estate
  Warnings and articles by real estate educator and consumer advocate Neil Jenman.