Description of Known Scams

There are a variety of scams commonly used to steal from unsuspecting victims.  Here are a few:

International / Canadian Lottery
This scam is typically managed outside the United States.  A victim receives a letter, an e-mail, or telephone call, from a person claiming to be a customs agent or a lawyer, informing them that they have won the lottery.  And, in order to claim their prize, they must send a check or money order to cover processing fees.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars are lost every year to this type of scam. 

AOL Alert
Subscribers receive a phone call from an AOL representative requesting that the subscriber provide their credit card number and expiration date for verification purposes.  In other instances, subscribers receive an e-mail, with an AOL logo, requesting the same type of information. 

Legitimate business and organizations will not verify personal or billing information in this manner. 

Cramming
Cramming is when a business, internet service provider or cell phone provider, charges for a “free” service or for a service that was never ordered.  These fraudulant charges are “crammed” onto the consumer’s credit card, mixing in with legitimate charges. 

Unauthorized Credit Card Use
An individual signs-up for a “free” trial period.  If you do not cancel the membership during this trial period, you are automatically activated for full-time membership.  The company will continue to charge a monthly fee to your credit card.  Many of these scams occur on adult websites.

Nigerian Letter Scam
This scam is well-known around the world and comes in a variety of forms.  An unsuspecting individual usually receives a letter from a government official or an officer of a Nigerian State business claiming to have millions of dollars.  The official indicates that they need assistance getting the money out of the country and asks to use the victim’s bank account to transfer the funds.  In exchange, the victim is promised 10% to 35% of the money.  Once the account information is provided, the account is cleaned-out within hours. 

Click below for a list of some scams that have been reported to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department - Profiled Scams of the Week.