Get out of Debt Quick Ad Has Hidden Costs

This radio ad from 77WABC promotes a get-out-of-debt quick scheme by John Cummuta. It says you can order a free CD to find out more about “transforming debt into wealth,”…

What to Know about this Vehicle Notice

This official-looking postcard warns recipients that their warranty is about to expire, and that if they want to continue coverage, they must call the company’s hotline. If you have questions…

No Need to Pay for a Government Refund

This postcard advertises a supposed government job opportunity. Unfortunately, this job is not actually with the government but with a third party that helps to process Federal Housing Administration refund…

Look Alike Yellow Pages

United Directories wants you to pay  $300 to be listed in its version of the yellow pages. But this is not the traditional yellow pages that you’re used to getting…

Look for the True Costs of Common Sense Cash

This advertisement promises that you will earn $1,000. But it charges you $50 to $100 to see the “plan” that will earn you the money. The plan involves paying $260…

Freecreditscore.com Isn’t Free

Checking Out the “Check Into This” E-mail

This e-mail links to a fake news site promoting a work-at-home scheme. From: —[email protected] Subject: Check this out Date: May 10, 2012 To: —[email protected]   this is intense you should check…

Translating the Full Costs of the “Language Professors Hate Him” Ad

The only thing that can be “absolutely guaranteed” is that there is no way to learn a new language in only 10 days. This ad links to a language-software website…

Lies, Lies, Lies

It all sounds great. Click on a website and start making money. But it is a An inherently deceptive form of multi-level marketing where participants are told they’ll get paid…

Pay to Work? Be Wary of This Data Entry Job

This e-mail links to a site that asks you to pay for a data entry job. Any service that cares more about getting your money than getting the best-qualified applicants…

Cash Creation: Who Gets the Dough?

The site linked in this e-mail is selling a “cash creation” system that involves taking online surveys. Beware of any job that “requires no prior experience, education, or special skills.”…

MyCashCall: Fast Cash from a Text?

MyCashCall.net is not a lender. The site collects your Data that can be used to identify you, like your name, address, birth date, or Social Security number and sends it…

Beware the Costs of Free iPad Texts

The link in this text takes you to freesurprisecenter.com, where nothing is really free. Not only that, but they require you to enter your Data that can be used to…

Best-Buy-Offer.com: Not Exactly Best Buy

Watch out for any site that uses a slightly altered version of a major vendor’s URL to try to seem more legitimate. The link in this shady-looking text message leads…

WorkAtHomeAide.net: Check into this Marketer

This e-mail links to a fake news site. When you leave the site, a An advertisement that pops up in a new window when you’re browsing the internet. window directs…

Can You Win the African Lottery?

Playing foreign lotteries is illegal. Do not reply to an e-mail like this or provide any information to the sender. For more information, check out TINA.org’s article on sweepstakes and…

Watch Out for E-mails Seeking Foreign Business Partners

Any Too frequently, the term proves to be simply a euphemism for sending your money along to an unknown person or company and then watching your money magically disappear e-mail…

Mr. Dennis Lawrence, Financial Consultant?

This e-mail requests Data that can be used to identify you, like your name, address, birth date, or Social Security number as part of a bizarre pitch to get the…

E-mail Alert: Does Ghana Have $8 million to Give You?

Sorry, the Vice President of Ghana doesn’t really want to give you $8 million out of the blue. The tip-offs? Poor grammar, request for nonsensical “RED SEALED stamp fee” of…

Who is Alusi obi? And Why Does He Want to Give You Money?

Is Mr. Alusi obi your pal? Have you entrusted him with $7.3 million for some reason? No? Good, so you know this is totally fake. Red flags: poor grammar, unknown…