BBB Announces Top Ten Scams of 2011

Posted January 9th, 2012
Written by RPD Staff

The nominees are in and after reviewing thousands of scam reports over the last year, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has named its infamous list of the Top Ten Scams of 2011 by category, including one scam so notoriously evil that is earns honors as Scam of the Year! This year, scams are increasingly reliant upon technology, with a healthy smattering that includes the use of texting, Facebook and email. What’s more, it’s getting even more difficult for unsuspecting victims to discern a legitimate communication from a fraudulent one, thus making 2011 a bountiful year for scammers and fraudsters alike.

According to the BBB, the top ten scams of 2011 by category include:

Job Scam. With more people on a continuous job hunt, scammers are taking full advantage of this behavior. Emails, websites and online applications are all parts of various schemes that eventually lead an unsuspecting job candidate to fill out a “credit report” or provide other bank information for direct deposit of paychecks. The end result is a clear case of identity theft.
Sweepstakes and Lottery Scam. In this case, victims receive notice that they’ve won a sizable amount of money in some sweepstakes or lottery. However, wise winners beware — in a true giveaway, you don’t need to give money to get money.
Social Media and Online Dating Scam. If you see a link to a sensational headline or video, practice self-restraint and remember the age-old saying, “curiosity killed the cat.” Often times these links (even if posted by a friend) contain worms that are downloaded to your computer when you click. This worm will send out a similar message to your friends while searching for personal information on your account at the same time.
Home Improvement. Unfortunately, it’s a sad truth, but bad or fraudulent contractors continue to make the list. Use referrals and check out a contractor’s license and bond before you hire one, and let’s get this trickster with tools off of the list for 2012!
Check Cashing Scam. If you’ve ever sold anything on Craigslist, you’ve probably seen this scam in action. As a seller, you receive an offer from a distant buyer who wishes to send you a check for more than the amount of the sale. In return, the buyer asks that you wire the difference back to him or her. Of course, by the time you figure out that the check was bad, the scammer has made off with the wired money. On the bright side, you still have your floral couch.
Phishing Scam. Phishing is the practice of seeking confidential information from a victim via a phone call or email that contains a virus designed to scour your computer. This year’s top phishing scheme involves an email seemingly from the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) that asks victims to click through a link and “verify” bank account information.
Identity Theft Scam. The year’s top ID theft scheme relied on sleepy hotel guests to answer the phone and readily hand over credit card information in the middle of the night to replace information lost in a supposed middle-of-the-night computer crash.
Financial Scam. In these difficult economic times, scammers are making it even more difficult for people to handle mortgages and other financial matters. Masquerading as a mortgage company or other government entities, scammers ask for an up-front fee for otherwise free, debt relief services.
Sales Scam. Penny auctions where bidders must pay a small fee for each bid made are currently under investigation as a form of online gambling.
Scam of the Year. This notorious honor goes to none other than the BBB phishing scam! In this scam, a countless number of people have received an email from “the BBB” notifying them of a complaint against his or her business. The email asks the victim to click on a link or open an attachment, which in turn launches a virus designed to steal bank information, passwords or other confidential information.

For more details on the 2011 Top Ten Scam list, you can visit the Better Business Bureau here.