Consumers:
Junk Mail > How Can I Avoid Spam Scams?
Treat commercial e-mail solicitations the same way you would treat an unsolicited telemarketing sales call. Don't believe promises from strangers. Be skeptical of money-making opportunities that arrive at your in box. Most of the time, these are old-fashioned scams delivered via the newest technology.
Here are some of the most common scam offers likely to arrive by e-mail:
Chain Letters
Chain letters that involve money or valuable items and promise big returns are illegal. If you start one or send one, you are breaking the law. Chances are you will receive little or no money back on your investment. Despite the claims, a chain letter will never make you rich.
Work-At-Home Schemes
Not all work-at-home opportunities deliver on their promises. Many ads omit the fact that you may have to work many hours without pay. Or they don't disclose all the costs you will have to pay. Countless work-at-home schemes require you to spend your own money to place newspaper ads, make photocopies, or buy the envelopes, paper, stamps, and other supplies or equipment you need to do the job. The companies sponsoring the ads also may demand that you pay for instructions or tutorial software. Consumers deceived by these ads have lost thousands of dollars, in addition to wasting their time and energy.
Weight Loss Claims
Programs or products that promote easy or effortless long-term weight loss don't work. Taking off weight, and keeping it off, requires exercise and permanent changes in your diet. All the testimonials and guarantees in your e-mail are not worth the space they take up on your hard drive.
Credit Repair Offers
Ignore offers to erase accurate negative information from your credit record. There's no legal way to do that.
Advance-Fee Loan Scams
Be wary of promises to provide a loan for a fee, regardless of your past credit history. Remember, legitimate banks don't issue credit cards without first checking your credit.
Adult Entertainment
You may get an e-mail from an adult-entertainment site that claims to offer content for free and doesn't require a credit-card number for access. All you have to do is download a viewer or dialer program. However, once the program is downloaded onto your computer, it may disconnect your Internet connection and reconnect to an international long-distance phone number, at rates between $2-and $7-a minute. Be skeptical when you see opportunities to view free content on the Web.
Consumer Protection Spam Division
501-682-2341
800-482-8982 (statewide)
501-682-8118 (fax)
webspam@ag.state.ar.us
