Internet Based Fraud

A wise man once said, "To err is human but to really screw things up takes a computer." Another thing computers allow is the ability to attempt to defraud thousands of people at the same time. This page provides links to sites that provide information about identifying and avoiding frauds, scams, lies, and myths.

Caveat: Some of the links below are to sites that are selling products of their own. Others may have personal agendas to advance. For example, my personal agenda is to make it more difficult for liars and thieves to succeed in taking advantage of people.

General Fraud Information Sources

National Fraud Information Center & Internet Fraud Watch: This general information page is maintained by the National Consumers League.
Consumer Fraud: A Department of Justice information page.
Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams: This is more general information provided by the SEC about cyberfraud. I've included it here because many pyramid schemes are marketed on the Internet.
Frauds and Scams | Crimes of Persuasion - An Investigator's Resource: The opening page includes this goal of the site's creator. "I hope to share with you my thoughts and observations regarding the peculiar breed of sociopath that makes their living perpetrating 'crimes of persuasion.'"

Tax Fraud Alerts: The Internet sometimes seems overwhelmed with scams that claim to provide ways of avoiding income taxes. This Internal Revenue Service site talks about those scams.
AT&T Fraud Education: "Tips that may help you identify and avoid telephone fraud."
Fraud Risk Management: Scams & Frauds Exposed: Extensive information, general and specific concerning a wide range of fraudulent schemes.

Privacy & Data Protection

Concerns about privacy rank right up there with security of credit card numbers in consumer surveys about the Internet. Since the maximum loss exposure for credit cards is $50, the real worry for most people probably ought to be privacy

Privacy Analysis: Details that a remote server can learn about you and your computer.
Gibson Research Corporation: Another site that provides details of what a remote server can learn about you and your computer.

Media, Information Society and Data Protection: The European Community's page on data protection.
Pretty Good Privacy: Creator/vendor of a public key encryption system.

Resisting Email Spam

Elsop's Anti-Spam Page: An extensive list of links to information, including some on other Elsop pages.

Multi-level Marketing (MLM) Information

Let's be clear where I'm coming from. MLM is a cover term for pyramid scheme. Here are a few web sites that provide information that leads to that conclusion.

Lotions and Potions: The Bottom Line About Multilevel Marketing Plans: A U.S. Federal Trade Commission information page.
MLM Survivors Homepage: Starts with ten test items, a set of questions to answer for yourself about a "business proposal."
Charles W. King: Never let it be said I totally ignore the other side of the story. King is a proponent of multi-level marketing and is often cited by the promoters of these schemes.

Quatloos! Guide to Multi-Level Marketing (MLM): A short, effective treatment plus links to other information sites.
What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing?: A lengthy (about 22 printed pages) which describes the problems with MLM including market saturation, the pyramid structure, morality and ethics, and relationship issues.
Le Club Prive: The parent site which includes the previous linked article. Information on a variety of MLM schemes including recent news.

Other Bits & Pieces

Cagey Consumer: "Angering More Scammers Every Day" Information on specific scams.
Tax Protester/Tax Scam Debunking Sites: A specific list of sites which combat this growing problem.

FactCheck.org: "Holding Politicians Accountable"
Hoax Warnings: Information on both latest virus threats and virus hoaxs and false alerts.
Urban Legends & Folklore: A site for debunking urban and Internet myths, legend, and folklore. If you see something that looks like a hoax, this site could confirm your doubts.

If you have any corrections, comments, or would like to suggest an addition to this page, please e-mail me at brownwp@longwood.edu.

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Last updated Thursday September 07, 2006 4:35 PM.