A | B |
State Attorney General | This state office assists consumers who have been victimized by fraud |
Better Business Bureau | A local consumer protection agency |
National Consumers League | Has a website where incidents of consumer fraud may be reported |
Federal Trade Commission | A government agency to assist consumers who've been victims of fraud |
media | Means of communicating - e.g. word of mouth, telephone, texting, emails, etc. |
identify theft | Stealing one's personal information to commit theft or fraud |
winning bid at auctions | A scam artist may notify you that you have the winning bid, ask for money, but never ship the item purchases |
condition | A stipulation or prerequisite |
lottery | Prizes awarded by chance after purchase of a ticket; very small chance of winning |
sweepstakes letter | States that one has won a valuable prize, but must pay a fee to claim it |
vague offers | Offers that withhold certain details, expecting one to pay up front to get them |
high-pressure sales approach | Using extreme tactics to persuade a consumer to buy |
chain letter | A letter asking one to send several letters with money in order to, supposedly, receive money in the mail yourself |
pyramid | A scam that usually involves a "get rich quick" chain letter, sending money to others in order to, supposedly, receive money in the mail yourself. |
lie/lying | To tell an untruth/the habit or practice of telling untruths |
illegal | Against the law |
scam/scheme | A plot designed to trick someone: a deception |
Failure to be informed | Not reading labels, fine print, contracts, sales offers, etc. |
Failure to protect | Not securing personal information and property |
Failure to plan | Not making shopping lists, spending plans, doing comparison shopping, etc. |