INTERNET CRIME Complaints and Losses on the Rise

FBI.GOV ^ | March 30, 2009 | n/a

[Cindy]

INTERNET CRIME Complaints and Losses on the Rise 03/30/09

Reports of Internet scams and their financial toll continued to grow in 2008, according to the latest data by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which operates a website, www.ic3.gov, to collect and refer public complaints about Internet fraud.

In 2008, more than $264 million was lost in 275,284 complaints—an average of $931 for every complaint—according to the 2008 Internet Crime Report, released March 30. Almost one-third of the complaints were for non-delivery of merchandise purchased online; auction fraud accounted for one in four complaints.

[Cindy]

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

http://www.ic3.gov/media/annualreport/2008_IC3Report.pdf
http://www.ic3.gov/media/annualreports.aspx

[autumnraine]

I remember my poor friend told me about some great website where you overpay for items but then you get a rebate check in the mail, so you are really getting a good deal.

I was like huh? You paid double the price of that item based on them TELLING you that the manufacturer would send you a rebate for 75% of what you paid and so you were really getting it for 25% of the cost.

She was all excited, so was her parents.

I said, ya’ll let me know when those rebate checks get there, ok?

I still haven’t heard anything. Luckily they were quite well to do so they didn’t lose much except some gullibility. Nice family though, I felt bad for them.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I've been trying to sell some photography equipment. I heard from one person, who wanted to pay me $200 more than I was asking, couldn't meet me in person because she was on her way out of the country, but wanted me to ship it to Africa. (Nigeria!)

New take on an old theme, I guess.

[autumnraine]

Some people have no shame. My ex-husband’s family were gypsy con people. I was so stupid and gullible that I didn’t recognize it until several years into our marriage. He tried to be normal for me, but it was in him and he ended up being a dirtbag too. I felt stupid for not seeing people for what they were, but I was young and naive I guess and wanted to see the best in people.

I’ll tell you what though, I can see a con man coming from a mile away now. Obama reminds me of my ex-inlaws.

[Malsua]

There are sites like that, but there are also sites like Ebates.

There are quite a number of stores using ebates, my primary use is for Newegg. I get the same price clicking through ebates or not. The difference is that I get 2% back going through Ebates.

[bikerman]

I have some great dry land in Florida anyone interested real cheap must sell.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Well, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt most of the time, but this letter just didn’t pass the smell test. I wrote her back and said there were two many complicating factors for me to be comfortable with the transaction, but that there were several identical items on ebay if she really wanted this type of equipment. Haven’t heard back from her.

[bmwcyle]

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