John M. Lisa, CPA: Client Resource Center

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Common scams and other types of fraud, plus how to spot and avoid them.

Common Scams

Beware of Online Sales and Auction Scams

Fakes and scammers are constantly available looking for online victims. Even worse, authorities are often unwilling to spend time catching these crooks. Here are four guidelines to use to ensure you are not a victim. Read article

Say bon voyage to cruise ship scams

Before you even step foot on a ship, follow a few simple guidelines to avoid scams. Read article

Protect against nursing home theft

If one of your family members or friends lives in a nursing home or other assisted living facility, watch for these warning signs of theft. Read article

Lost pet? Don't become a fraud target

When a pet disappears, owners can become distraught, calling animal shelters, advertising in local papers, posting photos on every telephone pole and fence post all in the hope of hearing news of their lost animal. At such times, pet owners are also more vulnerable to fraud. Consider the following scenarios. Read article

Contractors: Secure your job site to reduce theft

According to the Associated General Contractors of America, theft losses among its members have reached almost a billion dollars annually. Try the following to stem losses on your sites. Read article

Nonprofits should take five simple steps to avoid internal theft

Each year, employees steal about $40 billion from American businesses. Unfortunately, nonprofit organizations are among these businesses. To avoid internal theft, put these basic control and accounting procedures into effect. Read article

5 Reasons Why the Elderly Are Susceptible to Scams

As we age, we tend to become more vulnerable to fraud. Here are the top reasons why the elderly are more susceptible to scams. Read article

3 Tips to Steer Clear of Work-From-Home Scams

With millions of Americans working remotely, the Federal Trade Commission is warning people about work-from-home scams. Here are some common work-from-home offers to be careful of according to the FTC. Read article

Protect Your Medicaid Identity from Scammers

Do you have Medicaid? If so, you could be a prime target for scammers looking to cash in using your medical information. Here are some tips to protect yourself. Read article

Don't lose money to a car repair scam

Although most auto repair shops employ honest and skilled technicians, some shops take advantage of unsuspecting car owners. Here are two of the most common auto repair scams and how to avoid them. Read article

Job-hunters: Avoid agency scams

Employment scams are not new, but they've become increasingly sophisticated as scammers design websites that effectively mimic the sites of legitimate companies. How can you keep from being ripped off by bogus job agencies? Read article

Stay safe when using free Wi-Fi

A wide variety of businesses routinely advertise free Wi-Fi access. While it may seem easy and convenient to use, free Wi-Fi comes with major risks. Read article

Protect yourself at the ATM

Automated teller machines, or ATMs, provide ample opportunities for criminals. Here are some tips to protect yourself from ATM fraud. Read article

4 travel deal red flags to avoid

Vacation time is fast approaching, and con artists are gearing up. Beware of four indicators that a travel "deal" is actually a rip-off. Read article

Don't become a social media fraud victim

Day in and day out crooks scan social media accounts to glean personal information. Their goal? Steal your identity and/or pilfer your bank accounts. Watch for these common scams. Read article

Car warranty scammers are still in business

Thousands of consumers have been bilked by telemarketers claiming to represent auto manufacturers, dealers or state motor vehicle departments. If you receive a phone call, email or postcard urging you to extend your car warranty or buy a service contract, take these steps. Read article

Free airline tickets? Don't buy it

You're scanning Facebook, catching up on a high school friend's latest antics, when an offer pops up for free airline tickets. Sound like a great deal? Think again. Read article

Signing up for a prepaid funeral plan? Check out the company first

Unfortunately, scammers know that funeral planning can often be emotionally charged, making it easier to prey on vulnerable families trying to plan ahead. Protect yourself and those you love against prepaid funeral fraud with these tips. Read article

Watch out for apartment rental rip-offs

It's time to move! As you scan apartment listings on Craigslist, you spy a great deal. You're in a time crunch, so you make an appointment to tour the apartment. Could this be a scam? Here's how to protect yourself. Read article

Is that health care insurance policy legitimate?

How can you tell if a health care insurance policy is phony or too good to be true? Here are four warning signs. Read article

How to avoid "easy money" scams

Fraudsters have been using "easy money" scams for years. However, methods have been adapted to exploit advances in technology, which has helped with tricking victims into new cons. Here's how you can avoid these scams. Read article

Bogus chain letters - They're no joke

For decades chain letters have been making the rounds. These days they're more likely to show up in your email than your post office box. Regardless of the process used, chain letters often have a common goal: to separate you from your money. Read article

Don't be fooled by work-at-home scams

How can you tell whether an employment offer to work at home represents a legitimate business opportunity or a fraudulent scheme? Here are some pointers. Read article

How to Protect Your Business from Employee Theft

Employee theft happens frequently enough for it to be a concern of every business.Here are some suggestions to reduce your risk. Read article

Tax Scams

IRS Confirms Audit Notification Policy

At a recent Taxpayer Advocate Forum, it was discovered that some IRS auditors were initiating contact with taxpayers via a phone call. Given the tremendous increase in IRS phone scams, the IRS has confirmed it will not continue with this practice. Read article

Beware of the Dirty Dozen tax scams!

Beware of these tax schemes that target your confidential tax and financial information! Read article

Protect Yourself from Unemployment Compensation Thieves

Unemployment claims give identity thieves a new avenue for taking your money - filing fraudulent unemployment compensation claims. Here's what you can do to protect yourself. Read article

Don't fall for tax refund fraud

Scammers are still on the prowl, constantly devising new ways to steal your money - including your tax refund. Follow these guidelines to protect your information and your refund. Read article

A Social Security Administration agent or a scammer?

You're sitting down to dinner when the telephone rings. You answer and a voice says, "This is Agent Jones with the Social Security Administration. We're having problems with our computer system and I need to confirm your Social Security number." Hang up. It's likely a scam. Read article

How to protect yourself from identity theft

"Identity theft" sounds like a movie title, but it is a real-life horror story for hundreds of thousands of people every year. Here are some ideas to help you minimize your risk of this troublesome trend. Read article

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