Telephone calls to entice you, infomercials that look like TV programs with celebrities, “You’re Invited” seminars that offer a big-time sales pitch are all scams you will encounter. Don’t ever give out information such as your credit card number or bank account number. You are entitled to ask questions, so make sure you get answers. Be careful!

Read and bookmark these resources:

Federal Trade Commission

(www.ftc.gov) – this is the federal government’s complaint department. If you have been “taken” by a scam or suspect a scam, let this department know and they will investigate. Check here for other investigations that have led to scams and learn how to avoid them (link to Consumer Protection and follow to Internet & E-Commerce).

National Fraud Information Center

(www.fraud.org) – a division of the non-profit National Consumers League, this site is dedicated to educating consumers about scams and how to avoid them. Check out the Internet Fraud Daily Report with up to the minute on-line scams.

North American Securities Administrators Association

(www.nasaa.org) – any individual or organization who wishes to protect themselves from securities fraud will find the information on this site useful. Entrepreneurs will find valuable information on franchising and raising capital in the “Help for small business” section.

ScamBusters

(www.scambusters.org) – keeps you posted on what to watch out for. This site has earned the Forbes “Best of the Web” designation and has also appeared in the print version of Forbes’ Best of the Web.

U.S. Department of Justice

(http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/index.html)

Federal Bureau of Investigation

(www.fbi.gov)

How To Avoid Internet Investment Scams

(http://www.sec.gov/consumer/cyberfr.htm) – an article by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission… well worth checking out.

National Financial Fraud Exchange

Can be reached by telephone at (800) 822-0416.