Everyone’s seen them—seductive work-at-home opportunities hyped in flyers tacked to telephone poles, in newspaper classifieds, in your e-mail, and all over the web, promising you hundreds or thousands of dollars a week for typing, stuffing envelopes, processing medical billing, etc. And it’s just a phone call or mouse click away…

Might be tempting during these uncertain economic times, but beware of any offers that promise easy money for minimum effort—many are scams that fill the coffers of criminals.

Here are a few of the most common work-at-home scams.

Advance-fee: Starting a home-based business is easy! Just invest a few hundred dollars in inventory, set-up, and training materials, they say. Of course, if and when the materials do come, they are totally worthless…and you’re stuck with the bill.

Counterfeit check-facilitated "mystery shopper:" You’re sent a hefty check and asked to deposit it into your bank account, then withdraw funds to shop and check out the service of local stores and wire transfer companies. You keep a small amount of the money for your “work,” but then, as instructed, mail or wire the rest to your “employer.” Sound good? One problem: the initial check was phony, and by the time your bank notifies you, your money is long gone and you’re on the hook for the counterfeit check.

Pyramid schemes: You’re hired as a “distributor” and shell out big bucks for promotional materials and product inventories with little value (like get-rich quick pamphlets). You’re promised money for recruiting more distributors, so you talk friends and family into participating. The scheme grows exponentially but then falls apart—the only ones who make a profit are the criminals who started it.

Unknowing involvement in criminal activity: Criminals—often located overseas—sometimes use unwitting victims to advance their operations, steal and launder money, and maintain anonymity. For example, they may “hire" you as a U.S.-based agent to receive and re-ship checks, merchandise, and solicitations to other potential victims…without you realizing it’s all a ruse that leaves no trail back to the crooks.

Add identity theft to the mix. As if these schemes aren’t bad enough, many also lead to identity theft. During the application process, you’re often asked to provide personal information that can be used to steal from your bank account or establish new credit cards in your name.

A few tips:

1. Contact the Better Business Bureau to determine the legitimacy of the company.
2. Be suspicious when money is required up front for instructions or products.
3. Don’t provide personal information when first interacting with your prospective employer.
4. Do your own research into legitimate work-at-home opportunities, using the “Work-at-Home Sourcebook” and other resources that may be available at your local library.
5. Ask lots of questions of potential employers—legitimate companies will have answers for you!
6. And if you think you’ve been the victim of a work-at-home scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Info courtesy of FBI

HOME REPAIR FRAUD
Senior citizens are approached by individuals offering to perform various home repair jobs such as driveway repair, roof or gutter repair, and chimney cleaning. The perpetrators claim to have materials left over from other jobs, offer significant discounts, or claim they were sent by a close relative or friend. Once the job is completed, the cost of the work is suddenly more than the first quote and payment in cash is demanded. The con artist may accompany the victim to the bank, to ensure payment in cash. Sometimes these home repair con artists will commit burglary if the opportunity presents itself.

WANTED

Click here to view current wanted persons.

PREVENTION TIPS
1. ALWAYS lock your doors when doing yard work, getting the mail, or anytime you go outside - both the front and back doors.

2. NEVER allow strangers inside your home.

3. CHECK with the utility company by telephone if an employee wants to enter your home, or wants you to come outside with them.

4. BEWARE of unsolicited home repairmen. If you need the services of a home repairman, check with the township building officials to make sure they are legitimate. Be suspicious of anyone knocking at your door asking to make repairs to your home, or asking to pave or seal your driveway.

5. WRITE DOWN the plate number of any suspicious vehicles they may be operating.

6. CALL THE POLICE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT!!!!

TRANSIENT CRIMINALS
Who are these criminals that specifically target senior citizens? They are a group of highly organized specialists in frauds and scams, who travel from city to city, from state to state, usually traveling some distance from their home to commit their crimes. The police have named this group TRANSIENT CRIMINALS. Because these criminals move from one area to another, law enforcement depends on shared information and improved reporting systems. It is extremely important that these crimes are reported to the police department.

The TRANSIENT CRIMINAL targets the senior citizen for several reasons. Seniors are more trusting in nature and are less likely to report the crime. They feel embarrassed or fear losing their independence, if they fall victim to these types of crimes. Many senior citizens keep large sums of money and other valuables at home. Senior citizens are more apt to have physical infirmities and are often alone during the day. Many times they are unaware of traveling con artists.

UTILITY IMPOSTER BURGLARS
One method used by these criminals to invade homes is called the Utility Imposter Scam. The suspects will pretend to be employees of the water department, power company, cable TV company, or a home improvement repairman. They will use a multitude of excuses to enter the home, such as; we need to inspect your water pipes, or we need to replace your water meter, or even a request to use the bathroom. One suspect will attempt to divert the homeowner downstairs to the basement or outside to examine needed repairs. During the diversion, a second suspect will enter the home to steal cash and jewelry. The imposter burglars may come equipped with all the tools of the trade, wearing hardhats, traffic vests, carrying walkie-talkies, etc.

HOME INVASION BURGLARY
The burglary team is usually made up of two to four people. In many cases, a male will drive three females to the targeted area. The female suspects will roam the neighborhood and approach senior citizens working in their yards, while the driver either cruises the neighborhood or parks away from the area. One suspect will distract the homeowner asking any number of questions. The second suspect will slip into the unlocked residence and steal cash and jewelry. It might be days or weeks before the homeowner realizes she/he has been the victim of a burglary. The suspects are careful to put everything back in its place.

1. Sometimes suspects will knock or ring the doorbell. The suspects will pretend to be ill, ask for a drink of water, ask if the house is for sale, ask about a previous owner, pretend to be looking for a lost dog, or any other excuse to get inside the home.