• Consumer Line - Consumer advice and complaints information for consumers, includes a directory of consumer organization contacts.
• Consumer Patrol 1 - Offers a complaint forum, news tips, and customer service and product ratings.
• Consumer Reports WebWatch - Consumers WebWatch, a project of Consumers Union, publishes research and journalism on credibility issues that matter to consumers, and recommends Web-wide guidelines to address widespread problems of credibility and trust.
• Consumers' Association of Canada - An independent, non-profit volunteer organization, represents and informs consumers and advocates action on their behalf to improve the quality of life.
• Consumers International (CI) - Supports, links and represents consumer groups and agencies all over the world. It has a membership of over 250 organisations in over 100 countries. It strives to promote a fairer society through defending the rights of all consumers, especially the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged.
• Consumers Online - The Australian government's one-stop-shop for consumer information and advice.
• ConsumerTips.com - Links to complaint sites, scam alerts, fraud complaint centers, advice columns, advocacy resources for products, automotive, real estates, taxes, financial including credit cards.
• Contractors From Hell - Information and resources on contracting for and hiring home remodeling contractors.
• Damn Companies Complaint Center - A consumer advocate company's site where one can submit a complaint and they'll actively try, on your behalf, to satisfy your complaint.
• DisciplinedDocs.com - Search State databases to see whether a medical doctor or physician has been fined, disciplined, lost his/her license to practice medicine, been suspended, or had license revoked.
• eCrooks - Discusses how to deal with ecrooks or Internet con-artists, who do not deliver merchandise.
• FairComment.com - FairComment.con is an organization dedicated to championing the consumer's rights for fair play for goods or services purchased from big businesses.
• Fight Back - Offers a public complaint board, special reports and advice.
• Find-It Consumer - Search engine for "one stop consumer help". It provides a single stop for searching more than 100 consumer protection and public safety web sites.
• Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights - A nationally-recognized, California-based, non-profit consumer education and advocacy organization. Deals in insurance reform, healthcare reform, billing errors, and other issues.
• Fraud Bureau - Web Fraud and Web Scams Complaint Centre providing Information on internet scams and internet fraud prevention.
• Holiday TravelWatch - Consumer advice relating to holiday and travel complaints. Offers assistance to consumers who have suffered appalling holidays.
• HomeOwners for Better Building - Dedicated to helping homeowners resolve their construction defects, and exposing the use, abuse, and unfair tactics of binding arbitration in new home contracts.
• Indbazaar.com - A guide for the Indian consumer, with consumer rights and contact information.
• Independent Consumer Complaint Network - Allows users to log complaints on any company globally. Browse through the database and read all about complaints on various companies.
• Infomercial Watch - A critical view of the health infomercial marketplace.
• Insurance Consumer Advocate Network - Retired adjuster created site where consumers receive tips on buying auto and/or homeowner insurance as well as help in settling auto insurance claims, home insurance claims and personal injury claims.
• Justice Junction - Read consumer complaints or post your own.
• Massachusetts Housing Consumer Education Centers - One-stop Shopping for Housing Information and Referrals offered by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Housing Association's statewide network of housing agencies. Tenants, landlords, prospective buyers and homeowners can access information, referrals, brief counseling or workshops on a wide range of housing issues.
• The Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs - MCCA - Consists of all Commonwealth, State, Territory and New Zealand Ministers responsible for fair trading, consumer protection laws and credit laws.
• My Woes - A consumer complaint site. Post and read complaints from other consumers.
• National Consumer Protection Week - A week to highlight consumer protection and education efforts around the USA.
• NewBuyer Buying Guides - Buying portals of rated links in objective, easy to navigate buying guides to help buyers make confident buying decisions
• North East Mediation & Arbitration - North East Mediation and Arbitration Expediates Resolutions Through a cooperative and Supportive Environment.
• Oil Filter Wrench Complaints - Submit and view complaints from "backyard mechanics" and auto professionals frustrated with currently available oil filter wrenches. Complaints will be issued to tool manufacturers.
• Protecting Yourself from Consumer Fraud - Florida Citizen Safety Center. Short text articles on many potential fraud situations.
• Seal California Arrest Records On Line - Obtain free investigator search tools that allows you to operate like a private investigator and obtain information plus a section to seal court records on line.
• SMG Consulting - With over 30 years of experience S.M.G. Consulting provides services ranging from leak investigation and field testing to legal dispute resolution.
• So You Wanna.com: Refunds - Consumer information regarding refund requests, effective letter writing tips, enlisting outside sources, follow up and small claims court.
• Social Security Number FAQ - Other Information on SSNs and Privacy
• The Swedish Consumer Coalition - An organization for consumers and other organizations, who has the goal to increase the influence of the consumers on the market and in the politics.
• Tattletale Consumer Hotline - A consumer information web site providing consumer tips, alerts, health and fitness notes, and private sector and public sector information. Additionally, consumers may post complaints and get answers to questions.
• Texans for Builder Reform - Working to bring about reforms to the unregulated Texas home building industry to provide consumer protection for new home buyers and licensing of all Texas home builders.
• Theft Library - Offers free on-line electronic library of theft reports submitted by anyone who has had something stolen from them.
• Theme Park Accident Reports - A volunteer-run program to create a database of accidents involving injury at major amusement parks around the world. Includes safety tips for visitors and families.
• TheSqueakyWheel - Helps dissatisfied consumers get refunds and apologies.
• Ticket Scam Resource Center - Informs consumers about the different types of scams involving concert and sporting event tickets.
• Trading Standards Consumer Complaints - This website is a free online service, which allows you to make a consumer complaint to your local Trading Standards Service concerning consumer problems.
• The Troubleshooter Network - In conjunction with Tom Martino's syndicated radio show, the site provides business referrals, consumer news, and a discussion board.
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC ) - Official federal agency website, including recalls, reports, and alerts.

Consumer Protection  

• EConsumer.gov - Provides information on consumer protection laws in thirteen countries and offers consumers a way to file complaints online.
• Florida Professional License Watch - Providing information about licensed professionals, including doctors and teachers.
• Judge Dickerson's Consumer Law Decisions, Papers, Articles & Books - Links to articles on the rights and remedies of consumers, with a biography of the author, a New York State County Court Judge.
• Lawyers Fund for Client Protection of New York State - Acting to protect legal consumers from dishonest conduct in the practice of law, to preserve the integrity of the bar, to safeguard the good name of honest lawyers, and to promote public confidence in the administration of justice.
• National Consumer Law Center - Advocate for low-income consumer justice and low-income consumer issues.
• New Jersey Consumer Law - Information about legal rights, product and consumer safety, from ATLA, New Jersey.
• Lemon Laws - Council of Better Business Bureaus - Providing consumer information and a description of available remedies under the vehicular lemon laws of each state, and providing online assistance to consumers who wish to attempt to resolve eligible defective vehicle claims without hiring a lawyer.
• Ask the Rep - Auto problem and Lemon Law advice provided by a representative of a major auto company.
• Autopedia - Lemon law information and consumer resources for all fifty states, with links to attorney websites.
• Car Lemon - Informational site, providing lemon law information for each U.S. State.
• David J. Gorberg - Law firm sponsored site, offering information about how to protect yourself from defective vehicles.
• Howard A. Gutman - New Jersey lemon law hearing information, cases, statutes, hearing procedures.
• Kimmel & Silverman - Law firm sponsored site offering information for consumers with defective automobiles.
• Lemon-Aid - Offering books on avoiding lemon vehicles for Canadian consumers, as well as links and information about secret warranties.
• T. Michael Flinn - General information regarding lemon law.
• William R. McGee - Overview of California lemon law, from an attorney.
• Bureau of the Public Debt - Describes fraudulent schemes that involve what are claimed to be securities issued or backed by the United States Treasury.
• Harry S. Miller, Esq. - SecuritiesLaw.com - Focusing on small investors rights against stockbrokers.
• NASD Rules and Regulation - Rules of broker conduct for the National Association of Securities Dealers. Information concerning customer complaints and arbitration of disputes with brokers.
• North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) - International organization consisting of state and provincial securities agencies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Includes directory of regulators with links.
• StockPatrol.com - News articles on securities fraud issues, additional reports for subscribed members, and links for investors.
• University of Toledo Financial Regulators Gateway - Directory with addresses and telephone numbers of securities, banking, and insurance regulators worldwide.
• How to Avoid Securities Fraud - An introduction by Motley Fool to securities fraud, fraud on the Internet, Ponzi (pyramid) schemes, penny stock fraud, and tips for prevention.

Financial Abuse  

• APRI White Collar Crime Program - The American Prosecutors Research Institute provides training and technical assistance to prosecute white collar crimes with a focus on protecting elderly victims.
• Bennett Blum, M.D. - Offers information for cases involving undue influence, coercion, mental capacity and competency, dementia, elder or financial abuse. Includes forensic and geriatric psychiatry models.
• California Community Partnership for the Prevention of Financial Abuse - CCPPFA guidelines for preventing and reporting financial elder abuse, resources for financial institutions, posters and brochures.
• Challenges in Combating Predatory Lending - This 2004 report from the U.S. General Accounting Office highlights that the elderly are disproportionately victims of predatory lending. [PDF]
• Elder Abuse - California, Los Angeles District Attorney's Office - Features the Elder Abuse Unit. How to recognize and prevent elder abuse. Warning signs, avoiding false friends, secret loan, caretaker fraud, telemarketing fraud, fraudulent charities, real estate fraud and other types of fraud.
• Elderly People and the Law - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Transcript of 2003 The Law Report radio broadcast exploring the potential pitfalls surrounding family agreements and powers of attorney.
• Fighting Fraud Against Older Consumers - Explains how seniors can protect themselves by knowing how to identify fraudulent sales pitches.
• Financial Crimes Against the Elderly - The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, offers this comprehensive 88-page problem-oriented guide in PDF format.
• Investor Fraud Study - This 2006 report from the NASD Investor Education Foundation investigates strategies used by con criminals to defraud older persons. [PDF]
• NASAA Investor Education and Tips - From the North American Securities Administrators Association, this guide includes the top 10 investment scams, and how older Americans can avoid investment fraud and abuse.
• National Association of Bunco Investigators (NABI) - Non-profit organization of law enforcement and security investigators focusing on transient criminal groups and elderly victims.
• Older People and Consumer Fraud - The Australian Institute of Criminology shares the results of an extensive survey of seniors' criminal victimization and vulnerability to acts of consumer fraud.
• Seniors Against Investment Fraud - SAIF - Statewide outreach campaign under the California Department of Corporations to alert and educate seniors about investment and telemarketing fraud crimes.
• Telemarketing Fraud - PhoneBusters - Offers fraud prevention advice and collects telemarketing complaints throughout Canada working in partnership with other law enforcement agencies.
• Weapons of Fraud - AARP publication focusing on time-tested psychological tricks used to steal from seniors and including a CD with audio clips of actual con artists.

Internet Fraud

• Internet Crime Complaint Center - A partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). Alerts for consumers and easy-to-use reporting mechanism for fraud. Formerly the Internet Fraud Complaint Center.
• Antiscam.net - Information about avoiding scams involving Eastern European women, especially Russian ones.
• Auction Deadbeats - Online Auctioneer's list of deadbeat bidders.
• Carbuyingtips.com - Fraud Guide - Consumer guide to preventing and fighting eBay, escrow, auto, internet, cashiers check, and Nigerian scams. Tips on how to spot phony escrow companies and report the scammers.
• Catching Online Traders In A Web of Lies - An article describing the growing problem of internet stock fraud including recent "pump and dump" scams.
• Catty Shaq - Discussion forum covering various different types of online fraud and scams.
• Cyber Criminals Most Wanted - Overview of cyber criminal activity that includes safety, security, viruses, scams, filtering, encryption, hackers and government legislation.
• Cybercrime - Computer crime section of the Department of Justice contains links relating to internet commerce, intellectual property crimes, cybercrimes and general information.
• Digital Age Fraud - Covers so called "spam charges" to credit cards a string of international fraudsters.
• Easy Background Check - Modeling company background check website.
• The El Gordo Lottery Scam - Essay offers an actual record of an interaction with a scammer posing as a representative of the Spanish Lottery.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation - Common Fraud Schemes - Describes scams to avoid, most of which are internet-related.
• Fraud Bureau - Search for, or register, a complaint relating to online vendors and online auctions, including information and news about fraud on the Internet.
• GPTBoycott.com - Identifies "Get-Paid-To" websites that don't live up to their promises.
• Hoax du Jour - Regular commentary on the phenomena of misinformation and hoaxes on the Internet. Special attention to chain e-mail, 'Net rumors, scams, and hoaxes.
• Hoaxes, Scams and Rip-offs - Basics on hoaxes, scams and rip-offs on the internet. How to spot them and where to report them. Useful links
• Hoaxkill - Site includes lists and links identifying internet virus hoaxes, chain letters, urban legends, parodies of hoaxes, and discussion forum.
• How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams - Securities and Exchange Commission information about investment fraud.
• Internet Fraud - Department of Justice site includes information defining Internet fraud, what to do about it, and where to go to get more information.
• Internet Hoax Watch - HealthCentral.com topic center. Focuses on health email and internet hoaxes.
• Internet ScamBusters - Extensive information on fraud, scams, hoaxes, urban legends and credit card fraud. Free e-zine and reports.
• Junk Email - Resource site for dealing with e-mail scams.
• Money Laundering Fraud - Tracks current fraudulent "money mule" operations operated through the Internet.
• National Fraud Information Center - Provides a page devoted to Internet fraud.
• The Real Truth - Site provides information about Internet hoaxes, bogus viruses, urban legends, chain letters, email hoaxes, Internet security, and anecdotes about dumb people.
• RipOffs.org - The Internet news magazine dedicated to protecting your assets.
• Spam: Where to Complain About Frauds & Scams on the Internet - Links to government, advocacy, and watchdog groups accepting consumer complaints about Internet fraud and scams.
• Tabatha Marshall - A catalog of alleged bogus job offers and phishing attempts. Includes a comment board.
• Virtual Feedback - Free online website for Internet buyers and sellers to leave feedback on all types of transactions. Check for Internet fraud before you buy.
• VMyths - Extensive resource for identifying and debunking computer virus hoaxes and myths.
• Web Host Scams - Outlines things one should watch out for when signing up with a web host.
• WebAssured - Consumer protection service site provides means to register complaints, free ShopAssured download alerts shoppers when entering e-commerce site, free reports on business's consumer performance.
• The Register - FBI cracks down on pyramid scam cybervillains - The FBI has charged 88 people with Internet fraud after a nation-wide swoop. Those charged allegedly defrauded a total of 56,000 surfers out of more than $117 million. (May 24, 2001)
• The Register - Online fraud rife in the US - The US is a hotbed of online fraud according to a report just published by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NWCCC). (March 7, 2001)
• Law Enforcers Target 'Top 10' Online Scams - Consumer Protection Cops From 9 Countries, 5 U.S. Agencies, And 23 States Tackle Internet Fraud [FTC] (October, 2000)
• SEC warns against free-stock offers - They're not just annoying. The free-stock deals being e-mailed around the Net are illegal. (July 19, 1999)

Make Money Fast  

• MLM Watch - Exposes pyramid schemes get-rich hype and dubious product claims. Authored by Stephen Barrett, M.D. of Quackwatch.
• Internet Hoaxes - Includes an introduction to -- and warning about -- three of the most widely-known Internet hoaxes which never seem to die out.
• Merokee Dot Com - Includes information about how to weed out Internet scams and fraud.
• The MLM Watch Dog - Exposes pyramid schemes and scams and teaches people how to avoid them.
• MMF Hall of Humiliation - Dedicated to naming and shaming "Make money fast" fraudsters.
• The Nigerian Scam Forum - The Nigerian Scam Forum
• Please, No More - I may be Carl Winslow, but I'm not THAT Carl Winslow.
• Skepdic - Fast Cash - Includes information about how to identify and avoid fast cash scams.
• The Spicey Chicken Cartel - Very humorous look at spam mail and the individuals responsible for these get rich scams.
• What you need to know about MMF - Includes a detailed explanation for beginners.
• What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing? - Includes an in-depth analysis of MMF and MLM techniques and areas to be avoided.

Identity Theft  

• Federal Trade Commission - Identity Theft - The U.S. government's central website for information about identity theft.
• Identity Theft Resource Center - Features detailed guides for victims, current laws, media resources, and reference library.
• AOL Money & Finance - Identity Theft - Features the facts on identity theft and how to keep yourself from being victimized.
• Bankrate.com - 14 Tips to Avoid Identity Theft - Suggestions from Frank Abagnale on reducing one's risk of identity theft.
• Better Business Bureau - Stopping Identity Theft: Protecting Your Privacy - Articles for consumers and businesses.
• California Department of Justice: Identity Theft - Features state laws, tips for victims, and ID theft registry for the state.
• Call For Action: Identity Theft - Features warning signs, preventative measures, and victim information and resources.
• FDIC Consumer News: When a Criminal's Cover Is Your Identity - Tips for prevention and for victims.
• Federal Reserve Bank of Boston: Identity Theft - Brochure in html and pdf formats.
• Financial Privacy Now - Campaign to strengthen financial privacy protections for consumers to keep credit safe and prevent crimes like identity theft. Targets the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Project of Consumers Union.
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: ID Theft Information - Include a video, forms, and resources for victims of the crime.
• ID Theft Partnerships in Prevention - Victim advocacy, investigations, research, partners with businesses to prevent identitiy theft inside.
• ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name - Tips from the Federal Trade Commission.
• Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act - Full text of the United States national identity theft law.
• Identity Theft: Fact and fiction - This article discusses the growth and impact of identity theft, and how society should respond to its challenges.
• Identity Theft Security - Empowering consumers with tips, resources, and tools to prevent becoming victims of identity theft.
• Invasion of the ID Snatchers - Online booklet from the National Consumers League.
• Lies, threats, a lost identity and the internet - Chronicle of identity theft in blogs and cyberstalking. Includes tips on preventing online identity theft.
• Millersmiles.co.uk - Guide to avoiding online fraud and phishing scams.
• National Conference of State Legislatures: Identity Theft - Features current statutes, pending legislation, and publications.
• NPR : ID Thieves Target Children, Infants - Even the youngest among us can be victims of identity theft. Seattle Times reporter Jolayne Houtz explains how, and why. John Brooke, a Seattle-area man, describes how his newborn became a target. [2:44 streaming audio broadcast]
• Office of Privacy Protection: Identity Theft - Consumer information from this California state government agency. Some information also in Spanish.
• PhoneBusters: Identity Theft - Includes victim information, a list of scams, statistics on the crime, and prevention tips.
• The Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Identity Theft - Identifies the problem and offers tips on prevention and what to do if it occurs.
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - Identity Theft Resources - Articles and related links on what to do if you are a victim of identity theft.
• Property Crime & Recovery Investigators of Alabama (PCRIA) - A unique organization that offers education to law enforcement, private sector loss prevention officers, bank fraud investigators, and corporate fraud investigators in the areas of property crime and identity theft in Alabama.
• Public Advisory: Special Report for Consumers on Identity Theft - Tips and reports from the Solicitor General of Canada.
• RCMP Frauds and Scams: Identity Theft - Tips from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• Smartmoney.com: Debt Management: Stop! Thief! - Article by Aleksandra Todorova. Steps to restoring your good name after becoming a victim of identity theft.
• Smartmoney.com: Debt Management: The Secret Life of Your Social Security Number - Article by Aleksandra Todorova. "With Social Security-number (SSN)-only theft, oftentimes abusers have no intent of stealing anybody's good credit. They simply want the number so they can work and establish their own lines of credit — in their own name. In essence, two separate identities are created from one Social Security number."
• Social Security Administration: Identity Theft - Publication with tips and contact.
• State Government Site - New York Attorney Generals Office - Preventative tips.
• Texas Attorney General: Identity Theft - Prevention tips and victim information.
• U.S. Department of Justice: Identity Theft and Identity Fraud - Features programs, prevention, and remedial steps after the crime.
• U.S. Postal Inspection Services: Identity Theft - Features tips and brochures for prevention and for victims of the crime.
• Knowledge@Wharton - Do You Know Where Your Identity Is? Personal Data Theft Eludes Easy Remedies - [Free registration required to view.] Stopping identity theft is a very complicated proposition. Here are some steps that are probably required to positively impact the privacy of personal data. (April, 2005)
• NPR : Congress Aims to Combat Identity Theft - In the wake of recent scandals involving data collection companies like ChoicePoint and LexisNexis, Congress has begun pushing for greater personal identity safeguards. [3:12 streaming audio broadcast] (March 14, 2005)
• NPR : Fighting Identity Theft - Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, discusses the recent spate of security breaches at consumer data banks. Computer hackers accessed consumer data at ChoicePoint and Lexis-Nexis. [4:20 streaming audio broadcast] (March 14, 2005)
• NPR : Identity Theft in the International Arena - NPR's Eric Weiner reports on European efforts to prevent the theft of sensitive personal data compiled by information collection companies. [4:33 streaming audio broadcast] (March 14, 2005)
• NPR : Safeguarding the Data Brokerage Industry, Part I - The data brokerage industry has come under intense scrutiny with the disclosure of two high-profile identity theft cases. NPR's Farai Chideya has a special report. [11:46 streaming audio broadcast] (March 14, 2005)
• NPR : Safeguarding the Data Brokerage Industry, Part II - For a closer look at data brokers and what can be done to safeguard the industry from future fraud, NPR's Ed Gordon is joined by Robert O'Harrow Junior, a staff writer at The Washington Post and author of "No Place to Hide: Behind the Scenes of Our Emerging Surveillance Society," and Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (D), who has championed legislation that would give the Federal Trade Commission more oversight over the data brokerage industry. [7:55 streaming audio broadcast] (March 14, 2005)
• NPR : Information Companies and Identity Theft - Recent data theft from information companies prompted hearings on Capitol Hill. Gail Hillebrand of Consumers Union tells Jacki Lyden what sort of personal data information companies such as Choicepoint and Lexis/Nexis collect -- and how they use it. [3:15 streaming audio broadcast] (March 12, 2005)
• NPR : Senate Mulls Measures to Combat Identity Theft - The Senate Banking Committee considers possible regulations to battle the growing problem of identity theft. The most recent Federal Trade Commission survey found that 10 million Americans were the victims of some type of identity theft in one year. [3:40 streaming audio broadcast] (March 11, 2005)
• Smartmoney.com: Identity Thieves Employ High-Tech Tactics - Five of the latest high-tech forms of identity theft along with ways consumers can protect themselves. (March 7, 2005)
• Smartmoney.com: Consumer Action: Your SS Number Is Just a Click Away - Long article expresses concerns that various county clerks are publishing their residents' personal documents online. Many examples of public figures' data that can be found are given. (March 3, 2005)
• NPR : Experts Urge Consumers to Act Against Identity Theft - Georgia-based ChoicePoint Inc. is sending out letters to warn consumers their personal information has been stolen. But law enforcement officials say many more people need to be on guard for possible identity theft, after crooks got unauthorized access to information in ChoicePoint's databases. [3:37 streaming audio broadcast] (February 24, 2005)
• NPR : Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft - NPR's Madeleine Brand speaks with Gail Hillebrand about identity theft protection. Hillebrand is senior attorney for the Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization. [3:52 streaming audio broadcast] (February 22, 2005)
• NPR : ChoicePoint Security Breach - The consumer data company ChoicePoint says a security breach last week will affect more than 140,000 people in all 50 states. The company is sending notices to individuals whose personal and financial details were accessed by thieves posing as businessmen. [2:40 streaming audio broadcast] (February 21, 2005)
• NPR Talk of the Nation: How to Avoid Identity Theft - How to protect your identity. [37:28 streaming audio broadcast] (February 21, 2005)
• NPR : Tips on Avoiding Identity Theft - Michele Norris talks with Evan Hendricks, editor and publisher of Privacy Times and author of "Credit Scores and Credit Reports," about why people should be concerned about identity theft and what they can do to avoid it. [5:15 streaming audio broadcast] (February 16, 2005)
• NPR : Tips to Avoid Internet Identity Theft, E-Mail Scams - Criminals around the world are discovering tools that let them spy on hundreds of thousands of people over the Internet, and they're stealing credit card numbers, bank account passwords, and other sensitive information. NPR's Chris Arnold reports. [5:20 streaming audio broadcast] (August 11, 2004)

Advance Fee Fraud  

• Advance Fee Fraud - Outlines how common variations of this scam operate, including loans, phony sweepstakes, west African letters. From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• Advance Fee Fraud and Banks - Transcript of a talk on this type of fraud from a banker's perspective. [PDF]
• 419 Advance Fee Fraud Nigerian Scam - An archive of e-mailed solicitations received, how much the web site owner would have supposedly made by now, which scenarios are used (e.g., dead foreigner, or chemically treated money), explanation of how the scam operates, and links.
• Africanscam.co.uk - Information and links on 419 scams; correspondence and photographs from some scambaiting projects.
• Artists Against 419 - Provides information on fake bank sites and how to distinguish them from legitimate ones, along with announcements of monthly flash mob events aiming to shut down fake bank sites through bandwidth siphoning.
• Brian Wizard - Offers free pdf-format books about fighting Nigerian 419 letter scams and email fraud.
• The 419 Coalition - Devoted to fighting the advance money scam, in which victims are offered millions for allowing an even greater sum to be deposited in their bank account, but end up having their accounts drained or being fooled into advancing fictitious taxes, fees or bribes.
• Email Scams and Internet Frauds - A collection of advance fee fraud messages from all over the globe.
• E-Mail Scams: How to Recognize Advance Fee Fraud - The "Nigerian Letter" du jour, interspersed with comments. For the small business owner who might think that just possibly an offer out of the blue for a cut of millions of dollars could be truthful.
• FW - Investment Consulting - Examples of business financing fraud (based on advance fees) and other fraudulent schemes.
• Greater Things: Nigerian / 419 Scam - The experience of a businessman fooled by this scam. Contact is initiated via letter, fax, or email offers of millions of dollars in compensation for holding even more millions of dollars in your bank account.
• International Investigation Services, Nigeria Division - Describing the Nigerian advance fee scam, with a searchable database of known names used by persons participating in the fraud, along with an archive of the letters and fake documents they use, and a bulletin board.
• ISCS Corporation and Receiver Corporation - Info about an alleged employment and job training scam running in Chicago.
• 419Legal - Advance Free Fraud forums, information and links to fraudulent sites.
• Nigeria E-Mail Scam aka 419 Scam aka Advance Fee Fraud - Description of the scam's mechanics, history, senders' aliases, ways to easily identify the scam email, and related links.
• Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud - Detailed information on the scheme, centered largely in Nigeria, wherein people are offered a share of millions of dollars to help transfer the money to their bank account. From the U.S. State Department. [1.04M] [PDF]
• Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud - Pamphlet from the Australian Institute of Criminology. Press release, abstract, information on ordering the print publication.
• Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud - The Minnesota Attorney General's office describes how the scheme works, and tells businesses, nonprofits, and individuals what they can do if they receive an offer through the mail to transfer money out of a foreign country.
• Nigerian Fraud Email Gallery - An archive of several hundred scam letters, with date received, names of supposed senders, country where the money is supposed to have originated, and amount.
• Nigerian Scam - Outlines the basics of this con, mentions variations, gives an example of a typical letter, explains how victims are taken in by this long-running scam. Links to further information.
• The "Nigerian" Scam: Costly Compassion - Federal Trade Commission alert on those polite letters from strangers in trouble, which promise a large financial reward for discreetly helping them.
• Nigerian Scams - Describes some variations of the "Nigerian Scam," scam indicators, typical opening lines, phone numbers mentioned, web sites used by the scammers. Names, company names, and e-mail addresses used by the gangsters.
• The Sani Abacha Fraud - An insight to a fraudulent email campaign.
• Scam 419 - An online database of scam 419 letters, explanation of how the scam operates, all the necessary links related to the 419 fraud.
• 419 Scam Email Repository - An information-gathering site dedicated to listing emails sent by advanced fee fraudsters.
• ScamLetters.com - Database of email scam messages, aimed at the general public and law enforcement.
• The 419 Scam/Nigerian Scam - People in academia can be targets of advance fee fraud schemes too. Sample letter, bullet list of common features of a "419" scam, and FAQ. From University of Pennsylvania Computing/Information Security.
• West African Advanced Fee Fraud - What the West African "419" fraud is, how it works, where victims meet up with the criminals operating this scheme, what residents of the UK should do if they receive a 419 letter. From the Metropolitan Police.

   

• Anatomy of a 419 scam - Detailed examination of how an American man fell for a fraudulent scheme operating out of the UK. [The Register] (July 9, 2004)
• Crackdown on £8.4m African sting - The idea of the African elite offering untold riches to strangers via e-mail or fax may seem absurd, but the National Criminal Intelligence Service says that victims are losing millions of pounds. [Scotland on Sunday] (March 2, 2003)
• The Nigerian Nightmare - Examines the 419 scam as well as its history, going back several decades. [Slate] (October 22, 2002)
• I crave your distinguished indulgence (and all your cash) - The author describes the mass of offers he has received from African nations, offering him a share of millions, with a description of how the scam works. [Salon] (August 7, 2001)

Phishing

• Anti-Phishing Working Group - Cross-industry global group supporting those tackling the phishing menace. Provides advice on anti-phishing controls and information on current trends.
• Anti Phishing Technology - Report explains control measures that might be suitable for banks etc. to protect themselves and their customers against phishing attacks. [PDF]
• Anti-Phishing: Best Practices for Institutions and Consumers - White paper with detailed advice on controls against phishing.
• Anti-phishing.info - Tips and information to help detect and avoid phishing attacks.
• Bank Safe Online - Advice from a UK banking industry group about phishing, money mules and Trojans.
• BBB Online - Phishing - Better Business Bureau's news, alerts and examples of phishing emails.
• CallingID - Anti-phishing browser toolbar that runs 54 checks against websites visited and raises alerts if it detects phishing or dubious practices.
• Castlecops - The Phishing Incident Reporting and Termination team aims to respond quickly to phishing sites and get them taken offline as soon as practicable.
• Content Verification - Company offers digital certificates to authenticate websites. Site provides technical information about phishing techniques.
• Fraud Eliminator - Anti-phishing toolbar with limited functionality free version.
• Gallery of Phishing Scams - A gallery of phishing messages claiming to come from banks, credit card companies, and auction houses. Learn to recognize fraud by studying these examples.
• GeoTrust TrustWatch - Antiphishing browser extensions identify the certification status of sites listed in Google search outputs.
• GralicWrap - Free anti-phishing software uses fraudulent site reports submitted by users to build a global blacklist.
• Green Armor Solutions - Sells Identity Cues software to help users recognize fake websites through visual reminders linked to user login details.
• My Way News - Article about phishers using stolen bank customer secrets to create duplicate bank cards and withdraw cash from ATMs.
• Netcraft - Browser toolbar to report and block phishing sites identified by the toolbar user community. Identifies in which countries websites are hosted as further clues to their authenticity.
• OCC Bulletin 2005-24 - Advice to banks from the Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks on how to deal with phisher attacks.
• OnGuard Online - Phishing section of an informational website run by the US Federal Trade Commission. Offers advice on how to spot, avoid and report phishing attacks.
• Payments News - News stories about phishing.
• The Phishing Guide - Understanding and Preventing Phishing Attacks - White paper explains how phishing works and outlines control measures that can be taken by individuals and institutions to minimize the risk. [PDF]
• PhishTank - Clearing house for information about phishing plus an open API to integrate anti-phishing data into applications.
• Sharecube White Papers - Describes problems with current proposed and actual antiphishing solutions and proposes specific steps to stop phishing now.
• Spoof Email Tutorial - Explains how scammers trick people into thinking they're being contacted by Ebay.
• Spoof Stick - Browser extension that displays the actual domains of websites as they are visited, regardless of what is shown in the browser's URL address bar.
• Stay Safe Online - National Cyber Security Alliance website advises consumers on basic information security practices to avoid phishing and other forms of attack.
• US-CERT Cyber Security Tip ST05-019 -- Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft - Straightforward advice for those who fall prey to phishing and similar attacks.
• Why Phishing Works - Research paper from Harvard evaluated the deceptiveness of typical phishing emails. [PDF]
• Wikipedia: Phishing - Explains some common phishing methods and dangers.
• First Monday - The Economy of Phishing - Peer-reviewed paper presents findings from the author's research to uncover phishing networks and an analysis of the phishing infrastructure. (July, 2005)

Junk Mail and Telemarketing  

• The Alliance Against Fraud in Telemarketing & Electronic Commerce - Formed to raise public awareness about fraudulent telephone solicitations.
• Consumer Help - Remove your name from mail, telephone and e-mail marketing lists.
• Dealing with telemarketing - Inappropriate Telemarketing Practices and Legitimate Uses of Telemarketing.
• Declare Your Independence from Junk Mail - 3 steps to end junk mail. Also offers success stories and action alerts.
• EcoLogical Mail Coalition - A free service for businesses to remove former employees from direct mail lists. Reduces frustration of dealing with junk mail and saves trees/environment.
• Good Resources for Opting Out From Telemarketers and Junk Mail - Lists descriptions of companies and services with links.
• Junk Busters - U.S. Laws on Telemarketing - Telemarketing, past, present and future
• Junk Mail and the Art of Hype - Bill Mason's essay, published under the Open Content Principles License.
• Junk Mail Stopper - Offers advice on how to stop paper junk mail, spam and telemarketing and includes a listing of Federal laws.
• junkfaxes.org - Resources for stopping illegal, unsolicited 'junk' faxes
• Obviously.com - A free guide to reducing unwanted or intrusive advertising.
• Phone Busters - Information, statistics, arrests and news on phone fraud and scams.
• Stop SPAM and Telemarketers - Simple steps to help stop spam, telemarketers, and to prevent identity theft. Includes state-by-state rights and regulations.
• Stop Telemarketing Calls - Provides free caller ID software that stop telemarketer calls.
• TCPALaw - Information on telemarketing laws and what you need to sue telemarketers and junk faxers in small claims court.
• Top Ten Telemarketing Scams - The amount of money that consumers are losing to fraudulent telemarketers in credit-related schemes is on the rise.
• TravelASSIST Magazine - Beware of Telemarketing Scams - Article giving the "good news" and "bad news" about new laws related to telemarketing.
• Unwanted Telephone Marketing Calls - Information from the Federal Communications Commission, with instructions on a free registration process for adding your phone number to a national do-not-call list.

Do Not Call Lists  

• National Do Not Call Registry - Offers registration for consumers to stop telemarketers from calling. (United States, for-profit commercial calls only).
• Alabama’s Do-Not-Call Register - Information and enrollment.
• Alaska's Black Dot Law - Information on the law. For a fee, a telephone company will identify residential listings in telephone directories with a black dot, signaling telephone solicitors that you do not want telephone solicitations.
• California Do Not Call List - Information on proposed regulations.
• Canadian Marketing Association - Do Not Contact Service - Offers online registration for Canadian consumers to have their names removed from marketing lists held by members of the Canadian Marketing Association.
• Colorado No-Call List - Information, policies, frequently asked questions, and online signup.
• Connecticut No Call List - Information and enrollment.
• Florida No Sales Solicitation List - Information and printable forms.
• Georgia No Call List - List of individuals not desiring telephone solicitors and a list of telephone solicitors in the state of Georgia.
• Idaho No Call List - Consumer information and registration.
• Kentucky No Call List - Information and registration.
• Louisiana Do Not Call Program - Frequently asked questions and online registration form.
• Maine Do Not Call List - Enrollment to the Direct Marketing Association Do Not Call list.
• Minnesota No Call Law - Information. Sign-up begins on November 1, 2002.
• New York Do Not Call Registry - Information guide and registration form.
• Oklahoma Telemarketer Restriction Act Consumer Registry - Information and online registration.
• Tennessee Do Not Call Program - Information, rules, and free registration.
• Texas No Call Lists - Includes a registration form to limit telemarketing calls to a residential phone number for a charge. Also contains rules for telemarketers and a FAQ.
• Wisconsin No Call List - Information and free online enrollment to the Wisconsin No Call List. Signing up helps prevent residential telephone numbers from being commercial telemarketing targets; violators can be fined $100 per call.