Top 10 Scams In 2010

Scammer ingenuity knows no bounds. In 2010, as in years past, more criminals are taking the trouble to craft schemes, fudge websites, and get rich off the tight economy and the consumer desperation that goes along with it.

WalletPop presents a list of the top ten scams to look out for.

“Free trial” scams
Deceptive “free trial” offers topped the list of consumer trust abuses in 2009, and according to the Better Business Bureau, companies that peddle diet pills, teeth whitening strips, wrinkle creams, “free” government grant reports, anti-aging miracles and other purported something-for-nothings show no sign of slowing down.

Health insurance scams
In the midst of a lingering economic slowdown and in the wake of the new national healthcare reform bill, healthcare-related scams are surging. Even before the new legislation was approved, an October 2009 survey conducted by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud found that 57% of state fraud bureaus reported a higher incidence of health insurance fraud that year.

Mortgage loan audit scams
The FTC calls it the latest twist in foreclosure prevention scams: phony forensic auditors backed by attorneys who claim they can find laws your mortgage lender violated to get you off the hook. Aiming to exploit financially strapped homeowners, in exchange for an upfront fee of several hundred dollars, these “experts” offer to review your loan documents to find out whether their issuer complied with state and federal mortgage lending laws.

For 7 more scams go here.

Photo by rcastello.

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