The weapon of choice for fraud criminals is not a gun or a knife. Rather it is most often a telephone, letter, email, website, glossy publication, or brochure offering free vacations, merchandise, investment opportunities, or services. Not all frauds involve the direct selling of goods to consumers. Some frauds target institutions or businesses. Some examples of fraud crimes are:
- Advance fee schemes
- Banking fraud
- Business Fraud
- Counterfeit Prescription Drugs
- Credit card and check fraud (including fraud by impersonation resulting from theft of mail or credit cards)
- Embezzlement
- Fraud related to securities, commodities, and other investments
- Fraudulent "Anti-Aging" Products
- Funeral and Cemetery Fraud
- Health care and insurance fraud
- Internet Auction Fraud
- Internet Fraud
- Mail fraud
- Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud
- Non-Delivery of Merchandise
- Pension and trust fund fraud
- Ponzi Schemes
- Pyramid schemes
- Reverse Mortgage Scams
- Telemarketing fraud (telephone solicitation for false goods or services)
If you or someone you know has become a victim of fraud, contact your local law enforcement agency to report it and for advice on how to protect yourself from future events.