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Fraud
 Websites presented in alphabetical order Beware of Foreign Currency Trading Frauds 
 "Have you been solicited to trade foreign currency contracts (also known as 'forex')? If so, you need to know how to spot foreign currency trading frauds." Includes a list of warning signs of such frauds, such as "get-rich-quick schemes," avoiding companies that guarantee large profits or no financial risk, and sending cash on the Internet or by mail. Includes links to related sites. From the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). http://www.cftc.gov/opa/enf98/opaforexa15.htm Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Investing Last updated Mar 11, 2008 Charity Fraud
This site "offers useful tips for consumers, business people and nonprofit organizations" about avoiding charity scams and fraud. It provides fact sheets and consumer alerts, including a May 2008 notice "urging consumers to be cautious of potential charity scams in connection with the devastating earthquake in China and cyclone in Myanmar." Some publications also available in Spanish. Also includes links to related sites. From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). http://www.ftc.gov/charityfraud/ Topics: Charity & Nonprofit Resources, Corruption & Fraud Last updated May 13, 2008 Common Fraud Schemes
This consumer publication describes common fraud schemes such as telemarketing fraud, Nigerian letter or "419" fraud, impersonation and identity fraud, advance fee schemes, health insurance fraud, and investment-related scams such as Ponzi and pyramid schemes. Includes tips for avoiding the specific schemes, and links to alerts about Internet scams and fraud targeting seniors. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm Topics: Corruption & Fraud Last updated Jan 19, 2009 Don't Be a Victim of Loan Fraud
"Every year, misinformed homebuyers, often first-time purchasers or seniors, become victims of predatory lending or loan fraud." This consumer information resource from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a definition of predatory lending, tactics used by predatory lenders, and tips on buying and financing a home. Includes a link to a list of HUD's housing counseling agencies. http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/buying/loanfraud.cfm Topics: Business, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Corruption & Fraud, Housing, Investing, Money Last updated Oct 14, 2003 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Website for this government agency whose mission is "to safeguard the financial system from the abuses of financial crime, including terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activity." Provides program background, information about the Bank Secrecy Act (administered by the agency), regulatory notices, a FAQ about money laundering and related topics, and speeches, testimony, correspondence, and other documents from the program. From the U.S. Department of the Treasury. http://www.fincen.gov/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud Last updated Mar 17, 2008 Foreign Exchange Currency Fraud
An investor update that discusses potential fraud concerns arising from investments in foreign currency ("forex") contracts. "They may look like a new sophisticated form of investment opportunity, but in reality they are the same old trap -- financial fraud in fancy garb." Describes how forex contracts work, warning signs of fraud, and what regulators are doing. From the North American Securities Administrators Association. http://www.nasaa.org/Investor_Education/Investor_Alerts___Tips/6627.cfm Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Finance Last updated Mar 19, 2008 Fraud Alert! Bogus "Bonus" Checks
Background about scams that involve receipt of bonus checks in incorrect amounts or fake cashiers checks. Includes descriptions of the scams, and suggestions of how to protect yourself from them. For example, with cashier's checks the site advises insisting a check is drawn on a local bank, calling an out-of-town bank, and waiting to release merchandise until a check has cleared. From the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsum02/fraud.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Corruption & Fraud Last updated Sep 5, 2007 The Madoff Affair
Companion to a 2009 PBS Frontline documentary about Bernard Madoff that "unearths the details of the world's first global Ponzi scheme -- a deception that lasted longer, reached wider and cut deeper than any other business scandal in history." Features interviews, a timeline, statements of Madoff clients, and investors' stories. Also includes readings and links, classroom guide, and show transcript. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/madoff/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud Last updated Jun 1, 2009 National Fraud Information Center: Telemarketing Fraud
Tips for identifying and avoiding different types of telemarketing fraud and scams. Features general telemarketing fraud tips (in English and Spanish) for advance fee loans, buyers clubs, magazine sales, prizes and sweepstakes, travel fraud, work-at-home scams, and more. Also includes material about fighting fraud against the elderly, scams against business, and telemarketing fraud statistics (from the mid-1990s through mid-2000s). Online complaint form is not available. From the National Consumers League. http://www.fraud.org/telemarketing/teleinfo.htm Topics: Advertising & Marketing, Corruption & Fraud Last updated Mar 19, 2008 North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
"Organized in 1919, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) is the oldest international organization devoted to investor protection." The site contains news, information on legislative and regulatory activity, investor tips and alerts, resources for seniors and online investors, links to related resources, and more. http://www.nasaa.org/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Crime, Finance, Industries, Investing Last updated Mar 5, 2006 The President's Corporate Fraud Task Force
Website for this federal government task force that was established by executive order in 2002 "to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes," and which added six new member agencies in January 2009 "to help in the focus on mortgage and securitization fraud cases." Includes fact sheet, reports, and links to significant criminal cases and charging documents for Enron, ImClone, and others. From the U.S. Department of Justice. http://www.justice.gov/dag/cftf/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud Last updated Nov 1, 2009 purportal.com: The Bunk Stops Here
Purportal.com provides search access to five of the Web's leading debunking sites: Urban Legends Reference Pages (known also as "Snopes"), About.com's Urban Legends, CIAC Hoax Database, CERT Computer Security Database, and Symantec's Virus Encyclopedia. Also find links to other sites about hoaxes, frauds, rumors, and false virus scares, as well as recommended movies and books. http://purportal.com/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud Last updated Oct 19, 2005 Quackwatch: Your Guide to Health Fraud, Quackery, and Intelligent Decisions
This nonprofit corporation, whose purpose is to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies, has an enormous amount of original information to guide health information seekers. They define (comprehensively) quackery; present information on a long list of questionable products and services, from acupuncture to wild yam cream; discuss consumer protection methods and decisions, from airbags to vegetarianism; and link to other Web sites they consider useful. Searchable. http://www.quackwatch.org/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Health, Medical Treatments & Devices Last updated Oct 27, 2002 Religious Tolerance
The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, a group of four lay volunteers, has as its stated purpose to "disseminate accurate religious information," and "expose religious fraud, hatred and misinformation." Over 500 informative, well-researched and balanced essays discuss 63 religions from Asatru to Zoroastrianism as well as the religious and spiritual aspects of "Hot Topics" from abortion to women in the clergy. While beliefs are not criticized, actions which harm or limit individual freedoms resulting from religious beliefs are censured. http://www.religioustolerance.org/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Religion Last updated Aug 28, 2002 Sham Site Is a Scam: There Is No "National Do Not E-mail Registry"
A warning to consumers about commercial sites masquerading as a legitimate government do-not-call site. "The FTC advises consumers not to submit their email addresses to any organization that claims to be creating a do not spam list." From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/02/spamcam.shtm Topics: Advertising & Marketing, Business, Corruption & Fraud Last updated Jul 28, 2007 Snopes.com: Secret Shopper Scams
Discussion of employment fraud in the form of secret shopper job postings. Describes how "reshipper" and "cashier's check" cons have been reworked into secret shopper pitches, as well as the traditional secret shopper con, in which individuals are defrauded in the "value of their payments for goods (training materials) or services (certificates or listing in databases of available secret shoppers)." Also provides tips for avoiding secret shopper scams. From Snopes.com. http://www.snopes.com/fraud/employment/shopper.asp Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Corruption & Fraud, Jobs & Work Last updated Feb 27, 2008 Special Report on "Phishing"
This 2004 report discusses "criminals' creation and use of e-mails and websites ... to deceive Internet users into disclosing their bank and financial account information or other personal data." Covers risks, tips for avoiding phishing schemes, and contact information for reporting phishing emails. Opens directly into a PDF file. From the United States Department of Justice. http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/docs/phishing.pdf Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Crime Last updated May 6, 2007 Special Report: The Jack Abramoff Story
Collection of articles about Jack Abramoff, "the once-powerful lobbyist at the center of a wide-ranging public corruption investigation, [who] pleaded guilty Jan. 3 [2006] to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to provide evidence about members of Congress." Includes articles on topics such as the legality of lobbying, the relationship between Abramoff and Tom DeLay, and Abramoff's wardrobe. From the Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/06/22/LI2005062200936.html Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Politics Last updated Jan 10, 2006 Strange Science: The Rocky Road to Modern Paleontology and Biology
Explores the "weird ideas" of paleontologists and biologists during the evolution of "the knowledge we take for granted today." Contains a gallery of information and images of mistaken dinosaurs, dragons, mammals, sea monsters, hominids, fossils, and monsters; frauds; a timeline of events; and profiles of related scientists, artists, and collectors (including women in paleontology - see the biographies section). http://www.strangescience.net/ Topics: Animals, Geology Last updated Apr 23, 2002 Timeline: Oil-for-Food Scandal
Timeline of events related to the "oil-for-food programme (OFF) [which] was set up to allow Iraq to sell its oil in return for humanitarian relief, so it would not breach sanctions imposed after the first Iraq war. The programme was administered by the United Nations and is now [2004-2005] embroiled in a corruption scandal." Includes links to related news stories and background information about the oil-for-food program. From the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4445609.stm Topics: Business, Corruption & Fraud, Food & Cooking, International Governments, Nutrition & Food Safety, Oil & Gas, War and Peace: Resources on Iraq Last updated Sep 8, 2009 Tips for Giving in Times of Crisis
This publication offers advice for avoiding scams when donating money to support victims of a disaster, such as giving to an established charity, designating your gift for a specific project, and avoiding telemarketers. From Charity Navigator, a website that evaluates charities. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=310 Topics: Charity & Nonprofit Resources, Corruption & Fraud Last updated May 13, 2008 Writer Beware
Includes "discussions of a variety of literary schemes and deceptions, information on how to recognize them, advice on how to avoid them, and links to useful online resources." It includes alerts, case studies, and legal recourse information on such topics as fee-charging agents, dishonest book doctors, publishing scams, fake contests, copyright violations, and more. A useful resource for all writers from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/ Topics: Corruption & Fraud, Writing Last updated Sep 15, 2009 |
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