My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime - Everyday of the year is Christmas for the criminal in today’s cyber-­‐world. With technology making fraud and scams look more legitimate, it’s upon everyone’s shoulders to protect themselves from both online and offline business offers. Here’s my shortest bullet-­‐point list of things to know in order for you to be proactive in protecting not only your financial assets, but your online reputation as well.

1. My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime
Anthony Semadeni

2. Everyday of the year is Christmas for the criminal in today’s
cyber-‐world. With technology making fraud and scams look
more legitimate, it’s upon everyone’s shoulders to protect
themselves from both online and offline business offers.
Here’s my shortest bullet-‐point list of things to know in order for
you to be proactive in protecting not only your financial assets,
but your online reputation as well.
Internet Fraud
Scam artists in the U.S. and around the world defraud millions of
people each year by using the Internet to trick victims into
sending money or giving out personal information.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

3. Types of Internet Fraud
Internet crime schemes target victims using various methods.
Internet auction fraud -‐ This scheme involves the
misrepresentation of a product advertised for sale on an Internet
auction site or non-‐delivery of merchandise.
Credit card fraud -‐ Through the unauthorized use of a
credit/debit card, or card number, scammers fraudulently obtain
money or property.
Investment fraud -‐ This is an offer using false claims to solicit
investments or loans, or providing for the purchase, use, or trade
of forged or counterfeit securities.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

4. Nigerian letter or “419” fraud -‐ Named for the violation of
Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, it combines the threat
of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee
scheme in which a letter, e-‐mail, or fax is received by the victim.
Tips for Avoiding Internet Fraud
Preventative measures will assist you in being informed prior to
entering into transactions over the Internet.
Know your seller -‐ If you don’t know who you’re buying from
online, do some research.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

5. Protect your personal information -‐ Don’t provide it in
response to an e-mail, a pop-‐up, or a website you’ve linked to
from an e-‐mail or web page. The Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) has additional tips to protect yourself and your family from
the various types of Internet fraud.
Report Internet Fraud
If you believe you’ve been a victim of Internet fraud or cyber
crime, report it:
You can report a cyber scam or threat by filing a complaint with
the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

6. Financial Fraud
Scam artists use different types of fraud to try to trick people out
of their money. Two common types of fraud are banking scams
and investment scams.
Banking Scams
Popular banking scams include:
fake check scams, where a scam artist creates counterfeit checks
that look legitimate, with watermarks, routing numbers, and the
names of real financial institutions. They then try to deposit
them in banks, use them as part of other frauds against
consumers, or use them to pay companies for products or
services.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

7. unsolicited check fraud, where a scammer may send you a check
that you didn’t have a legitimate reason to receive.
Unfortunately, if you cash it, you may be authorizing the
purchase of items you didn’t ask for, signing up for a loan, or
something else you didn’t ask for. The Federal Trade
Commission offers tips to help you avoid being a victim of these
scams, and recommends what to do if you have been a victim.
Investment Scams
Investment scams prey on your hope to earn interest or a return
on investment on the amount of money that you invest. The
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) offers overviews of
many common investment frauds, and tips to avoid being a
victim.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

8. If you are the victim of an investment fraud, you can file a
complaint with the SEC or with your state’s securities
administrator.
Charity Scams
Not all organizations that claim to be charities or help people are
reputable. Some scam artists set up fake organizations, taking
advantage of the public’s generosity immediately after a tragedy
or major disaster. Some tips to help you detect common charity
scam tactics:
Check out the charity before you give with the attorney
general or the Better Business Bureau.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

9. Don’t be pressured to give to an organization.
Don’t assume that you can get a tax deduction for donating to an
organization. Use the IRS’s database of 501(c)3 organizations to
find out if it has this status.
Verify the name. Fake charities often choose names that are
similar to well established charities or use keywords that elicit
sympathy, such as “children”, “cancer”, or “disaster relief”.
Don’t send cash. Pay with a check or credit card.
If you suspect charity fraud, report it to the Federal Trade
Commission. Although the Do Not Call Registry doesn’t apply to
charities, you can ask an organization not to contact you again.
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

10. About the Author:
Anthony L Semadeni has been consulting with business owners
over the past decade, helping them understand the complexities
of business marketing and brand awareness in the Internet age.
Through his company, Business Checkup, he helps protect owner
and business brand reputations. For more information, please
visit http://www.onlinereputationmanagement.info or call 719-
‐309-‐4499. Tony can be found at:
http://www.tonysemadeni.com
My #1 Complaint – My Clients Don’t Protect Themselves from Fraud and Cyber Crime

11. Thanks For Watching Anthony L Semadeni
Presentation
For more information, please
visit http://www.onlinereputationmanagement.info and
http://www.tonysemadeni.com