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Mar 12, 2009 2:29 pm US/Central
Crooks Scam Businesses, Individuals Via Texting
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
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The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center says more and more of the scams arrive in text messages via cell phones.
CBS
Scam artists are taking full advantage of this economy,
targeting both businesses and individuals more intensely than ever. CBS
station KYW-TV has been tracking these scams and KYW-TV's Jim Donovan
tells us
about a new way crooks are trying to rip you off.
The downturn in the economy is causing an upswing in
scams. "We receive approximately 22-thousand consumer complaints per
month," says Charles Pavelites of the FBI.
The FBI's Internet
Crime Complaint
Center says more and more
of the scams arrive in text messages via cell phones. According to Pavelites,
"You get a text message. they can have the same things that emails have on
them. They can have a virus on them, they can have malware on them that somehow
get information off your cell phone on them and some people can now use their
cell phone to do banking." These days, those most in need are the
biggest target.Pavelites says, "We see mortgage fraud and debt elimination
schemes, work at home."
Experts suggest you treat each e-mail, text message and
phone call with caution to prevent becoming a victim. Never give out any
personal information and only read text messages and emails you expect to
receive, especially if there's an attachment. Pavelites says, "In most places,
you lock the door behind you when you come in, do the same with places on the
internet. Update your virus ware, spam filters update your spyware."
Another scam deals with recurring charges on your bank
account. Once a crook has access to your credit or debit account, they steal
amounts you're used to seeing withdrawn for annual fees, only they'll withdraw
the money more than once.
For more information you can visit the sites below:
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/fraud.aspx
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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