Beware of Scams! 

Warning: Criminals are increasingly using e-mail as a tool for fraud. If you receive an e-mail asking you to send personal information that is not directly related to an actual sales transaction, delete the e-mail, and never send the information!  

Please be aware that there are scam artists who enjoy trying to take advantage of free services such as our Classifieds. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Here's a list of some of the popular scams being used to get millions of dollars from innocent buyers and sellers: 

• Auction Fraud
• Counterfeit Cashier's Check
• Credit Card Fraud
• Debt Elimination
• DHL/UPS
• Employment/Business Opportunities
• Escrow Services Fraud
• Identity Theft
• Internet Extortion
• Investment Fraud
• Lotteries
• Nigerian Letter or "419"
• Phishing/Spoofing
• Ponzi/Pyramid
• Reshipping
• Spam
• Third Party Receiver of Funds

Here are ten tips on how to avoid these types of scams from The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) -- a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).  

1. Be cautious if dealing with individuals outside of your own country

2. Be wary if the seller only accepts wire transfers or cash

3. Contact the financial institution on which a cashier's check was drawn to ensure legitimacy.

4. Beware when money is required up front for instructions or products.

5. Be watchful of spelling errors, grammar problems, or inconsistent information.

6. Be cautious of emails requiring you to provide your personal and/or banking information.

7. Be suspicious of any unsolicited email requesting personal information.

8. Be cautious if you are asked to ship packages to an "overseas home office."

9. Don't open and never respond to spam as this will confirm to the sender that it is a "live" email address.

10. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on internet schemes, click here http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm. For more info on how to avoid being a victim of internet fraud, click here http://www.ic3.gov/preventiontips.aspx.