ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Online Purchases

Are there any other online scams I should watch out for?

Internet scams are so common the Federal Trade Commission has a term for them: "Dot Cons."

Among the most common scams are Internet sites that appeal to computer users' prurient interests by promising them they can visit adult webpages for free simply by giving credit card information to confirm they are at least eighteen years old. But the next thing these computer users see is not what they expected; rather, they see unfamiliar charges on their credit card bills. To protect yourself from this and similar scams, the FTC advises you to share your credit card information only with companies you trust.

Another notorious online con is the Nigerian scam, which has many variations. In its original form, a person claiming to be a government official from Nigeria sends an e-mail promising the recipient a percentage of the millions of dollars he is trying to transfer out of his country. But first, the message states, the recipient must send the name of his or her bank, account numbers, and other identifying information, ostensibly so the Nigerian can transfer the funds. Once he receives that information, the con artist has all the personal data he needs to pass himself off as the e-mail recipient and can easily draw funds from the person's account. The FBI notes that people have lost their entire savings after falling for this scam.

To avoid being a victim, recipients of this type of e-mail promising riches should simply delete it. They might also forward it to the FBI or U.S. Secret Service. If you know someone who is falling for the scam, the FBI says you should encourage him or her to contact the agency or the Secret Service. In any event, the FBI says you should always be skeptical of anyone who says he or she is from a foreign government or other authority and needs your help in handling large sums of money. Scammers claim to be from a variety of other countries besides Nigeria.