Feb 21
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The Chicago Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a public advisory warning of an active fraud scheme involving individ
Fraud Reporting When Your Social Media Account is Hacked
Hacking social media accounts can lead to reputational damage for internet users. This might even become a basis for scammers to take possession of vital information, images and videos that are not meant for public sharing. They may then proceed to threaten social media account holders, demanding large sums of money as a ransom for private information. Businesses have also become active users of social media, especially, in an age where social media marketing is at its peak. It is worrying when a Facebook or Twitter Page of a business is hacked. Here are some tips for fraud reporting in case of hacking and spam attacks on popular social media networks.
Fraud Reporting of Facebook Scams
Facebook pages are replete with spam ads and fake posts that threaten cyber hygiene. Simple ways for fraud reporting to Facebook involves:
● Using the mark as spam link will amount to fraud reporting on Facebook newsfeeds. The fake post will be marked as spam and prevent further fraud.
● Giving feedback on newsfeed is also a way of fraud reporting. This will bring to the notice of the Facebook team, any obscene content, pornography, or violence-provoking posts that may corrupt the minds of youngsters who use Facebook
● Fraud Reporting of fake profiles must be done in case people suspect the authenticity of profiles that they come across. There is a fraud reporting option on the profile page of Facebook accounts.
Fraud Reporting in LinkedIn
LinkedIn is used effectively by professionals and businesses to take advantage of networking and sharing of industry related information, views and feedbacks. LinkedIn scam has become common, with lot of fake accounts being created for fraud:
● LinkedIn Help enables users to flag fake and inappropriate accounts, especially those impersonating important public personalities
● Spam messages are a nuisance to LinkedIn users and also are indicative of impending scam and fraud. The report as spam option is the fraud reporting tool in LinkedIn
● Fake connection requests must be identified immediately by conducting a random check and reporting them
● Using LinkedIn as a means to perpetrate job scams is common. Fake recruiters misrepresent job offers from renowned businesses. Fraud reporting to the businesses misrepresented must be done immediately
● Intelligence gathering scams are at their peak in LinkedIn, since hacking of accounts of senior management profiles will result in illegal data mining
Fraud Reporting in Twitter
Twitter is equipped with tools for reporting fake accounts, abusive tweets and fake tweets. The Twitter Help Center lays down a copious impersonation policy that contains all relevant information on fraud prevention and mitigation in Twitter. The policy proceeds to close down accounts with malicious intention of damaging reputation of others by creating deceptive accounts. Tight criteria are included in the policy so that genuine accounts do not get closed down in the process. To maintain privacy and internet security and for strengthening internet spam protection, twitter uses cookies and pixels to regulate as well as authenticate access into Twitter accounts. By making prudent use of privacy settings it is possible to make Twitter accounts spam proof.
When to Use Facebook's Fraud Reporting Tools
Many scammers and crime syndicates target users of Facebook for their fraudulent schemes and confidence tactics. That's mainly because there are over 1.8 billion active users per month on Facebook, according to Statista's report for the fourth quarter of 2016. Since Facebook knows that it's a ridiculously challenging task to manage that many users, they're providing a set of fraud reporting tools in an effort to seek the participation of the entire community in controlling online scams and Web crimes.
Money flipping scams are among the newest forms of cyber fraud in Facebook. These are falsely advertised as investment opportunities, promising returns of up to ten times the value of your investment. This also guarantees a low barrier of entry, enabling anyone who has access to a gift card, a prepaid debit card or a moneypack to buy into this bogus investment opportunity. A lot of users have started using Facebook's fraud reporting resources to flag posts and ads about these money scams.
A lot of criminals mainly target US-based users and businesses for their illegal operations, primarily because almost all fraudsters know about the Pew Research Center's latest report. This indicates that 7 out of 10 adult Americans are now checking into Facebook on a regular basis. These are some of the main reasons why Facebook's fraud reporting services can be helpful during your day-to-day activities in this wildly popular social network.
Online dating scams that are targeted at American users are the most prevalent types of fraud in Facebook for the past several months. Many users have lost a lot of money because of these fraudulent schemes, and a few others often end up with damaged relationships with their loved ones. These extortion schemes are often designed in a way to be embarrassing for victims to report, which is the main reason why only a handful of them use Facebook's fraud reporting tools after falling for these scams.
There are certain instances where you should ideally use Facebook's fraud reporting services. To help you out - Here are some of them:
How to Best Use Facebook's Fraud Reporting Tools
First, you should use Facebook's fraud reporting resources when you see posts promoting an obvious scam, such as money flipping schemes and other bogus money making opportunities. Simply click the Report Post link near the post, and follow the instructions that'll appear on the page.
Second, don't put up with users who are constantly harassing you or any of your friends in Facebook. Also, you shouldn't allow users to post things that go against Facebook's community standards. You should use the fraud reporting tools in this social network to report the profile of those users. Simply go to the user's profile page and click the link that allows you to report the user. Follow the quick and simple instructions. You'll do the entire community a huge favor by doing this.
Third, if you don't want a user to be able to keep on calling you or sending chat messages in Facebook, then you can block the user or any of his or her calls and messages. Remember, online dating scams and other types of confidence schemes are often carried out through private messaging portals.
To report other scams and confidence schemes in and outside Facebook - You can sign up at BigScammers.com. This online community offers a set of quick and easy fraud reporting tools, allowing you to post scam complaints, file crime reports and contribute to other postings in this website's user-generated content repository. You'll be able to protect your family and friends from becoming a victim of scams that you've recently encountered when you do this. You can also quickly recognize potential scams by receiving instant notifications and real time alerts from this online community.
How Can Fraud Reporting Tools Help Stop Web Crimes?
Many criminal syndicates and solo fraudsters get away with their online crimes and Web scams. One main reason is the decision of a lot of users to not go through fraud reporting processes to share their encounters with the most widespread fraudulent schemes, malicious technologies and Web scams today. A large number of victims believe that it takes too much time and energy to file online crime reports and Internet scam complaints. These are usually victims who don't know about the convenient fraud reporting tools that are now being offered by a lot of government offices, private institutions, non-government agencies, tech companies and software development firms.
A lot of users also don't know the advantages and benefits of using fraud reporting tools whenever they encounter an online scam, a malicious application or a Web crime. They unknowingly leave out useful details and helpful information that can allow government agencies to track and stop responsible criminal syndicates and solo scammers quicker. They probably haven't thought that the details of their Web crime reports and online scam complaints can be used by ecommerce security development firms, system security companies, financial institutions and Web platform operators to improve their user identity verification processes, security protocols and protective Web privacy systems. They possibly don't know that anonymously sharing their experience with the latest online crimes and Web scams today in publicly accessible platforms can promote widespread awareness across other user groups around the world, which can educate these users and help them recognize possible Internet scams and Web crimes.
Online communities like BigScammers.Com have long realized the value of a publicly accessible database of timely Web scam complaints and Internet crime reports. That's why they offer fraud reporting tools that users anywhere around the world can use to post scam complaints or file Internet crime reports. These websites also know that hosting a regularly update repository of guides and resources created from the anonymous details in their user-generated content databases can educate more users and help them avoid the most prevalent Internet scams and online crimes today.
Can the Fraud Reporting Tools at BigScammers.Com Help Fight Web Scams?
BigScammers.Com closely works with a lot of government agencies, cyber security experts, ecommerce companies, financial organizations, system security development firms and tech companies around the world. As more victims use the fraud reporting tools at this online community, more useful information and helpful details can be used by these groups to create stronger security protocols, stricter user identity verification systems and fortified Web privacy protection procedures for their users worldwide.
As more user-generated content gets published and commented on in BigScammers.Com, this can allow you to learn about the exact tactics, schemes and malicious technologies that are presently being used by many criminal syndicates and solo fraudsters for their illegal activities on the Web. Most victims who use the fraud reporting tools at this website also provide the exact target Web platforms, social networks, applications, user groups and target countries of the criminals and scammers who are operating some of the most widespread Web scams and Internet crimes today.
This allows you to steer clear from these online locations, or at least be more vigilant and extra careful when using these applications and websites. By being more aware of the tactics and schemes that are possibly being used to lure users like you into the cyber traps of these criminal syndicates and fraudsters, you'll be able to quickly spot and safely avoid similar Web scams and Internet crimes. Pretty soon, fewer users would need to use the fraud reporting tools at BigScammers.Com since there'd most likely be a huge reduction in online scams worldwide when more victims begin to report Web scams and Internet crimes as they encounter them.
You can also sign up at BigScammers.Com to receive timely alerts and instant notifications about the newest fraudulent schemes, malware programs, scams and bogus money-making opportunities that are being promoted on the Web today. These real time alerts and instant updates are automatically sent by this website each time a victim uses the fraud reporting tools of this online community to file a Web crime report or publish and update an online scam complaint.
How Fraud Reporting Works in Canada
Online fraud reporting in Canada has changed drastically over the years due to the continuously increasing number of online fraud incidents. The government has taken the initiative to make reporting fraud more accessible and faster for its citizen to help address the issue.
The reason why improved online fraud report facility is necessary for combating online fraud, is because it is the primary step in addressing all types of online fraud. Before you can start investigating or resolving any scam you must first learn about its existence, and in order to do that somebody has to file a fraud report first. Once somebody reports a fraud, everything else will be set in motion and it won’t be long before the said fraud is put to stop.
To give you an idea about the different online fraud reporting platform in Canada, check out the details below;
Fraud Reporting Platforms in Canada
British Columbia Securities Commission
The British Columbia Securities Commission or BCSC offers a web form where Canadians who have become a victim of investment fraud or who have encountered investment fraud can use to anonymously report their experience.
The form provides guide questions to help keep your report organized and informative. The commission will then review the report that you have submitted and decide how to best address your concern.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or CAFC is the primary online fraud report center in Canada. The site offers an online web form, called the Fraud Reporting System (FRS), which you can use for reporting fraud. Unlike BCSC, you can use this fraud report platform to file a complaint about any type of scam.
One of the primary requirements to access this form is you have to use a GC Key or Sign-In Partners. This is an electronic identification system which you need to use each time you access or communicate with any government site. Aside from FRS, CAFC also has a toll free number, 1-888-495-8501, for Canadians who want to report or give a tip regarding an online scam. The centre is open to receive calls from Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Although the CAFC does not conduct investigations, the centre forwards many of the reports that they gather to the proper authorities so they can contact the victim and discuss available options for their case.
Competition Bureau
The Competition Bureau is a law enforcement agency in charge of overseeing healthy competition among businesses to better serve the Canadian consumers. The bureau offers an online fraud reporting form that allows victims of telemarketing fraud, pyramid selling scheme and other anti-competitive scams to report their experience. After a preliminary evaluation of the fraud reports submitted in their office, the bureau decides which complaints should be forwarded to Attorney General of Canada, Competition Tribunal or other appropriate departments.
The details above are just some of the many websites or government departments that offer a safe and secure online fraud reporting platform. Now you know how much effort the government and other agencies are putting into this online fraud reporting campaigns so make sure to do your part.
Fraud Reporting Should Be a Priority
Fraud reporting should not be taken for granted. In fact, you must make it a priority, most especially if you are a direct victim of an incident. At first, you might think that merely reporting the crime to various online complaint resources will not make any difference. The truth is, you are actually doing the right thing that might lead to punishing the frauds who scammed you. If you just give it due importance, fraud reporting may solve the injustice done to you by ruthless fraudsters, if not immediately, then as part of a greater process.
Fraud Reporting – What Really Happens
Fraud reporting yields a lot of positive results for the victims. Nothing bad will come out from reporting a fraud incident, unless it falls on deaf ears or persons with an ulterior motive. It is important that you practice voicing your concerns because it could not only help you solve the problem but it will also benefit you personally. Becoming a victim of Internet fraud can be depressing, especially if you lost a great amount of hard earned money. This is why you should always make fraud reporting a priority if you ever become one of the victims of Internet fraud.
Below are some of the benefits you can receive from reporting fraud incidents.
● Helps get the load off of your chest.
- Whether you admit it or not, becoming a victim of Internet fraud affects you emotionally. It is very stuffy to keep the entire burden to yourself. If you report the injustice you have experienced, you can at least let out the frustration. This will benefit you greatly. Since your mind will not be filled with anxiety anymore, you can rationally think about ways on how to catch the criminal who scammed you. That way, you can carefully devise a plan that will make the criminal liable for what he has done to you.
● Creates awareness.
- Most of the online complain resources only intend to create awareness to Internet users. These websites are still very helpful despite not being able to take legal action for the victim. The most important part of reporting fraud incident is spreading the news so that other people who are aware of those scams will no longer become the victim of those criminals. Online complains websites often publish your complain and creates a thread where others can read it and comment on it. Through this, you might even find someone who had the same experience as you and together, you can share ideas on how to cope up with the incident or how to deal with the losses you incurred.
● Gives you justice.
- This pertains to fraud reporting involving your local authorities. Although you have filed various complaints online via privately owned complains websites, it is still very effective to ask your government for help. There are special teams in the government that will handle cases like Internet fraud. When you report to the local authorities, you can be sure that they will conduct a proper investigation that can pinpoint the identity of the fraudster and make them liable for all the damage they have caused you.
Fraud Reporting Methods - What Options Do You Have?
Fraud reporting is an integral part in significantly reducing and effectively controlling online crime. However, more users should report scam operations and fraudulent investment opportunities on the Web right after they're victimized by these scammers.
Many users rarely report fraudsters and scam operations after being. Most of them hesitate to do this, because they're afraid of being targeted again, since not a lot of them know anonymous fraud reporting methods. Also, a lot of these online criminal syndicates have been known to implement systems that can automatically gather private details from the Web. There are many reports that these scammers can even steal private user information from supposedly secure databases of government agencies and private companies.
Some users don't know the quickest and easiest ways to report a scammer, while being protected against information theft. Here are effective methods to anonymously report scammers on the Internet:
Quickest & Easiest Anonymous Fraud Reporting Methods
1. Fraud Reporting Via Email - This is a straightforward way to report scammers online. Just use an anonymous email to contact a government agency, or a private group that handles scam reports from consumers and businesses. A lot of service providers, product manufacturers and Web operators have a dedicated email support teams that assists users in their fraud reporting needs.
Keep in mind to refrain from including potentially personally identifiable details in your email reports. If they require specifics like account information and other personal details, then ask them about their privacy policies. Review their policies carefully. Make sure that your confidential data won't be shared online or offline with anyone.
2. Fraud Reporting Via Live Chat - This is among the quickest and easiest ways to report a scammer on the Web. Don't forget to enter anonymous details, when trying to reach the live chat support department of any government agency or private group. Also do this, when contacting the live chat support department of your service provider, Web operator or product manufacturer.
Aside from reviewing their privacy policies before giving away potentially personally identifiable details, you should also use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Do this, when using their live chat platforms. You can also use an IP (Internet Protocol) masking application. This is to ensure that your IP address won't be logged along with your fraud reports. These tools can also safeguard other potentially private details from being taken from your Web browser or OS (operating system).
3. Fraud Reporting Via Web Platforms - Many government agencies and private groups have websites, where you can post scam reports and consumer complaints. Most of your service providers, Web operators and product manufacturers probably offer these online fraud reporting platforms, too.
Just make sure that you're on the official website of the government agency or company that you're trying to reach. You can do this by carefully checking the domains of the sites. Of course, those domains should be the official domains of the government office or company. Be wary of misspelled domains, those with different domain extensions, and domains with additional words and phrases.
You can use anonymous details, when creating accounts on these Web platforms. Remember to never include private details in your fraud reports on those sites.
The only time your account-related details might be required, is when a verified agent of the government office or private group contacts you privately. These required private details are mostly just your username (not your password) or your order receipt number and so on. These are details that might be required to reverse certain transactions that were carried out by scammers, who used your account without consent.
4. Fraud Reporting Via Phone - Just make sure that you're calling the updated phone numbers of the phone support department of a government office or company. You can do this by checking the contact page onthe official websites of these groups. If the verified phone agent asks for your private details, then confirm that their privacy policies can protect your personal information from being shared.
5. Built-In Fraud Reporting Tools in Apps and OS Platforms - Many system security software products and OS (operating system) platforms have built-in fraud reporting tools. Just use a VPN or an IP masking application, when you use these built-in tools to report scammers or potentially malicious websites and applications from your device. Of course, review the privacy policies of the developer, because the account details in your app or OS might be logged with your fraud reports.
These are the quickest and easiest fraud reporting methods that allow you to report scammers or fraudulent operations online, while protecting your identity. Share this with your family and friends, so they can be more confident in reporting fraud, whenever they encounter them on the Internet.
Romance Fraud! Dating Scam!
Dating sites are a craze these days and are rising in number. It is after registering for the online dating site that you meet a person of your choice in one of the chat rooms. It counts as a dating scam when the person who is chatting with you is not who you think he or she is.
The person is there to extract information from you and use it to his or her personal advantage. It all starts with exchanging basic information such as name, education, place of stay etc. and as time passes the fraudster starts posing personal questions. Few things to keep in mind while dating online are:
Do not post full name, work or home address, phone number etc on your personal profile. The criminals can use this for manipulative activities
Never entertain any unknown person asking about your financial status and account details. This should immediately ring the bell. Getting in touch with the fraud reporting department of the dating site can help in settling the issue
Trust your intuition and instincts. Slightest doubt about the person, do not ignore it. Raise a red flag to the fraud reporting center
Never receive money from an unknown account or send money to an unknown person.
Dating scams are as old as the civilization but with internet and social media becoming popular online dating scams are picking up. Fraud reporting in this category is lower compared to other scams as victims are reluctant to mention that they have fallen for someone and got cheated. This gives the courage to the scammers to come up with new ideas and spam these dating sites.
The victim should immediately block the scammers email id, ignore their calls and messages and cease all communication with the scammer. Try and make copies of your email conversations and messages and provide it to the fraud reporting agency. This is to alert the scammer that their behavior is not being tolerated and legal action is being considered. This would make them think twice before harming you and others in the Cyber space.
Fraud reporting should be seen as responsibility by the victims. Crimes will continue to happen if left unreported. Report about the fraudster to the dating site and the police department. It is essential to be aware of the best practice guidelines for the dating industry which also talks about complaints cell and handling the scammers behind the scene and protecting the victims.
There are several scam disruption projects in place to identify the scammers and keep them off the social media, but it would be effective only if the consumers support and report about the frauds.
Letting your heart rule the head in dating sites can prove disastrous if proper attention and alertness is missing. Sharing the information about scammer with police would help them track down the heartless criminal who is trying to capitalize and use the emotions of people searching for mates. Reporting could prevent someone else from breaking down emotionally and financially.