Some people believe that reporting scams is
useless because Internet fraudsters are anonymous. In addition to their
anonymity, the email and social media accounts that fraudsters use are most
likely hacked accounts, or phony accounts made using a fictitious name.
Combating scammers seem like a useless exercise because after reporting one
site and being successful in having it closed, a new one using a similar scheme
opens in the web.
Like most people, you are more likely into deleting spam
emails or blocking suspicious posts rather than reporting scams. Some victims avoid reporting scams perpetrated in the Internet because they feel ashamed of
being conned by fraudsters, or feel powerless about running after scammers.
This indifferent attitude towards reporting Internet scams to the proper
authorities make fraudsters more flagrant in their attempts to con more
Internet users and as a result, more people are being victimized.
Whatever your beliefs are about the capability of
authorities to stop or arrest online scammers, reporting scams is the most
sensible action to take when someone tries a malicious scheme to con you and
when you have just been victimized by a scammer. Authorities on Internet fraud
claim that you have better chances of recovering whatever amount of money you
have lost by promptly reporting scams. More important, your complaint triggers
awareness about currently running scams to enable enforcement agencies to take
action to stop the activity of the scammers.
Reporting scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Centre
(IC3) is the best action to take against fraudsters. The agency provides a
simple, easy to accomplish reporting process for filing complaints about crime
and scams perpetrated online. To report fraud or scam, click on the webpage of the
IC3 and then click on the tab for filing a complaint. You have to provide the
specific details on how you were victimized through accurate and complete
information about the scam to enable the agency to process your complaint
immediately.
The IC3 has a webpage that contains tips on how to prevent
Internet crime. The agency has gathered sufficient data over the years from the
complaints and cases that were investigated, so you will get sensible tips on
how to spot Internet scams such as the Escrow Services fraud, phishing and
spoofing, identity theft, credit card fraud, Internet scams on business and
employment opportunities, Nigerian scam, and many more. Browsing through the
tips can be an eye opener to many Internet users who at one time or another have
become victims or are the targets and would be victims of these scams.
Being aware of the scams
and malicious schemes that proliferate on the Internet is the best protection
against being victimized. Internet scams are successful because most people
lack awareness on how long these scams have been used by con men. Many are lured by the get rich quick
proposals that are the themes of the Nigerian and Ponzi/ Pyramid scams, while
job hunters are easily lured by promises of lucrative earnings from work at
home jobs and business opportunities. Reporting scams can be your best
contribution towards preventing others from becoming a victim because it helps
enforcement authorities stop the perpetrators.
