9.01.06
Internet Attracts Con Artists...

The Justice Department reports that scam artists use e-mail, chat rooms, message boards or Websites to present fraudulent proposals to prospective victims, conduct fraudulent transactions and transfer the proceeds to financial institutions or others connected with the crime. With the explosive growth of online commerce, criminals try to present fraudulent schemes in ways that look virtually identical to the goods and services offered by legitimate online merchants. For information on how to avoid crime on the Internet and elsewhere, visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation's "Be Crime Smart" Website.