Money Matters: Economy DownScams Up

The economic meltdown isn't coming without opportunities: for scammers. The banking crisis, with its takeovers and mergers is made to order for con artists who want access to your personal information, to steal your money and your identity. Vermillion police say they've had reports of people being told by email and best massage chairs phone that their bank account was suspended. The victims gave out their personal information to someone from overseas who attempted to withdraw money out of their accounts. That's not the only scam making the rounds. Lotteries, loans and mystery shoppers... checks for thousands of dollars. If you find any of these in your mailbox, beware. Jim David of the Better Business Bureau says, Desperate times call for desperate measures and often times you see people being somewhat careless in who they do business with. Jim David of the Better Business Bureau says many are the same old scams making new rounds. They always have different twists. Often times to scam somebody they'll pick a legitimate businesses name, utilize that name, or hijack that name to scam somebody. One scam the Better Business Bureau is tracking asks people to become secret shoppers. The letter and the five thousand dollar check that goes along with it, lists an address in the small town of Columbia, South Dakota. We actually tracked down the address they use. It's a vacant lot. David says the scam is actually originating out of the country and massage long beach victims are told to shop at well-known retailers and evaluate their customer service. But they're also asked to wire money from that big check to Canada. Banks will often cash them. But even if they cash them and give you the money for that, when it bounces, you're responsible for it. A couple of other warnings from the Better Business Bureau-- don't fall for advanced fee loans. You shouldn't have to pay up front to borrow money. And if someone calls or e-mails you to say there's something wrong with any banking account you have, get the institution's number from your statement or phone bookcall to find out whether it's true or not.