The BBB is out with their list of the Top 10 Scams of 2008.
You've probably heard of most of them: Phishing Scams, Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue Scams and Debt Repair Scams. Wisconsin Better Business Bureau President and CEO Ran Hoth says his agency is very concerned about the number one scam from last year: The Mystery Shopper scam, or any online scam.
"Anything that pretends to offer you something and in turn you have to give a portion of that money back, that's the 'check over-payment,' which seems to running rampant in the United States the last two years."
Hoth says during this economic downturn scammers of all kinds are looking to catch us when we're most vulnerable.
The second most popular scam of 2008 is the Grandparent Scam, followed by Fly-by-Night Contractors, Business Opportunity Scams, and at number five: the Advanced Fee Loan Scams.
Hoth says many people who want quick cash based on their predicted income tax refund or whatever, could pay huge interest rates and processing fees.
"Anticipation loans, even if you legitimately have filed a return and you want to put that money back to use or to pay off a debt, an anticipation loan can be extremely expensive."
Hoth says the BBB's concern is that in a tough economy scams seem to come to the surface just like all the other pressures we have maintaining our lifestyle.
In 2008, the Wisconsin BBB processed almost 17,000 complaints and 3.6 million inquiries.
Top Ten scams in 2008:
1. The Mystery Shopper scam
2. The Grandparent Scam
3. Fly-by-Night Contractors
4. Business Opportunity Scams
5. Advanced Fee Loan Scams
6. Craigslist Scams
7. Infomercial Scams
8. Phishing Scams
9. Debt Repair Scams
10. Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue Scams
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