Advanced Fee Schemes:
Actor induces victim to give him some type of advanced
fee in return for a future benefit. The future benefit
never occurs and victim never receives the advanced fee back.
Airport Scam:
Actor approaches victim in an airport stating that the
newspaper stand cannot change his one hundred dollar bill
and asks the victim for change. Victim provides actor with
the change, actor returns to the store to get the one hundred
dollar bill back, however, never returns to victim.
Auto Repair:
Actor hangs out around an auto repair shop and approaches
victims who leave after getting estimates. Actor claims
to do work off duty at a very low cost. Once actor has the
car, inferior work is completed and victim cannot get the
return of the car until the very high bill is paid.
Check Kiting:
A bank account is opened with good funds and a rapport is
developed with the bank. Actor then deposits a series of
bad checks but prior to their discovery, withdraws funds from
the bank.
Coupon Redemption:
Grocery stores amass large amounts of coupons and redeem them
to manufacturers when in fact merchandise was never sold.
Directory Advertising:
Actor either impersonates sales person from a directory company
like the yellow pages or fraudulently sells advertising which
the victim never receives.
Fortune Telling:
Actor advises victim that victim is cursed. Actor advises
victim that the curse must be removed. Actor advises that
she must meditate to the spirits and will require payment.
Over a period of time, victim pays fortune teller thousands
of dollars to remove curse.
Gypsies:
Actor states that victims money is cursed. In order to remove
the curse, the money must be placed into a bag or box that the
actor provides. The bag or box is switched. Actor advises victim
to perform certain rituals over the money and the curse will be
removed. The bag or box cannot be opened for a period of time
when it is opened, the money is gone.
Home Improvement:
Actor approaches a home owner with a very low estimate for
a repair or improvement. Inferior or incomplete work is
performed. Once the repairs are completed, actor intimidates
the victim to pay a price much greater than the original
estimate.
Inferior Equipment:
Actors travel around selling inferior equipment such as
tools at high prices.
Jamaican Switch:
Actor #1 approaches a victim looking for the address of
a prostitute. Actor #1 shows a large sum of money to the
victim. Actor #2 arrives and tells Actor #1 where he can
find the prostitute but cautions on taking all the money
as the prostitute might rob him. Actor #1 asks the victim
to hold the money for him. Actor #1 puts his money into a
handkerchief with the victims money. Actor #1 shows the
victim how to hide the money under his arm, inside his shirt
while switching handkerchiefs. Victim takes the handkerchief
and the parties split up, however, Actor #1 leaves with
victims money.
Land Fraud:
Actor induces victim to purchase tracks of land in some type
of retirement development which does not exist.
Odometer Fraud:
Unscrupulous used car salesman purchased used cars and
turn back the odometers. The used car is sold at a higher
price due to its low mileage.
Pigeon Drop:
Actor #1 befriends the victim. Actor #2 shows both Actor #1
and victim a "found" package containing a large amount of cash.
Actor #1 insists that the found money be divided equally but
only after each person puts up his own money to demonstrate
good faith. All the money is put in one package and the
package is later switched.
Police Impersonation:
Actor tells victim that his bank is being operated by fraudulent
bank officers. Actor instructs victim to take money out of bank
and place it into a good bank. After the money is withdrawn,
the actor allegedly takes the money to the police station for
safe keeping. The victim never sees the money again.
Ponzi:
An investment scheme where the actor solicits investors in a
business venture, promising extremely high financial returns
or dividends in a very short period of time. The actor never
invests the money, however, does pay dividends. The dividends
consist of the newest investors funds. The first investors,
pleased to receive dividends, encourage new investors to invest.
This scheme falls apart when the actor no longer has sufficient
new investors to distribute dividends to the old investors or the
actor simply takes all the funds and leaves the area.
Pyramid:
An investment fraud in which an individual is offered a
distributorship or franchise to market a particular product.
The promoter of the pyramid represents that although marketing
of the product will result in profits, larger profits will be
earned by the sale of franchises. For example, if a franchise
price is $10,000.00, the seller receives $3,500.00 for every
franchise sold. Each new franchise purchaser is presented with
the same proposal so that each franchise owner is attempting to
sell franchises. Once the supply of potential investors is exhausted,
the pyramid collapses. Many times, there are no products involved
in the franchise, simply just the exchange of money.
Quick Change:
Victim is confused by actors speedy series of money exchanges
and in the end, is short changed.
Shell Game:
Actor #1 manipulates a pea beneath three walnut shells or bottle
caps. Actor #1 moves the caps around and shows victim the cap with
the pea under it. With the encouragement of another player, also
Actor #2, victim places larger and larger bets as to which cap
contains the pea. The game is ended by Actor #1 when the take is
large enough.
Utilities Impersonators:
Actor impersonates utilities employees by wearing jumpsuits with
name tags. Actor approaches victim with story about a gas leak
or electrical surge to gain entry to the home. Valuables are
taken by actor.
VCR Scam:
Actor purports to sell new VCR's or televisions at an extremely
low cost due to his connections. Victim pays for the VCR or
television only to discover that the box has been filled
with rocks.
West African Investment Scams:
Actors target businesses and obtain business' bank account
information from which all funds are later withdrawn.
