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WASHINGTON, DC—According
to a statistics released today by the National Consumers League
(NCL),
during the first six months of 2005 consumer losses to
telemarketing and Internet scams more than doubled from the
average losses reported last year. From January through June
2005, consumer reports to NCL’s National Fraud Information
Center/Internet Fraud Watch program indicated that telemarketing
fraud victims lost an average of $4,107, compared to $1,974 in
2004. In Internet fraud, the increase was even higher: the
average loss rose from $895 in 2004 to $2,579 in the first six
months of this year.
According to the program’s director, NCL’s Susan Grant, some of
the most costly scams are perpetrated both by telephone and the
Internet: bogus sweepstakes and prizes; phony lotteries and
lottery clubs; and fake check scams. Some scams are starting to
operate together; for example, fraudulent sweepstakes operators
are starting to send the “winners” fake checks for sizeable
amounts as “advances” on their winnings. Victims are instructed
to wire some of the money back to pay “taxes,” “customs fees,”
or other trumped-up charges. When the checks bounce, the victims
owe the money that they wired back to their banks.
According to the new statistics, average losses per victim isn’t
the only thing on the rise; in the first half of 2005, the
number of crooks from outside the United States targeting
American consumers has also climbed. Within Internet fraud, 35
percent of reports emanated from foreign countries, up from 30
percent in 2004; and one-quarter of fraudulent telemarketers
were offshore. Furthermore, the number of foreign crooks is
probably understated, since in 31 percent of the telemarketing
scams and 26 percent of the Internet scams reported, victims had
no idea where the perpetrators were located.
“Unfortunately, more consumers are falling for classic scams
such as the Nigerian money offers and losing thousands of
dollars,” said Grant. “It’s important for consumers to know that
it’s in their power to avoid becoming fraud statistics. Use
caution and common sense, and educate yourself about these
scams.”
Click Here to view the Telemarketing Fraud Report
Click Here to view the Internet Fraud Report
For more
information about the top ten scams and tips to help you avoid
common telemarketing and Internet frauds, visit www.fraud.org |
