Whether you post videos or comments, watch out for these YouTube scams: Internet Scambusters #861 YouTube, the world’s leading video sharing site, is a persistent scam target. In the latest tricks, crooks try to extort money by threatening to complain about video posters and channel operators. They also impersonate posters to try to steal information […]

US agency warns jewelry firms about deceptive diamond ads: Internet Scambusters #860 There’s nothing wrong with simulated or lab-grown diamonds — as long as you know that’s what they are. But some jewelry marketers have landed in hot water by not making the source of their stones clear. In this week’s issue we’ll explain the […]

Internet crime now costing Americans $2.7 billion a year: Internet Scambusters #859 Every day, almost a thousand Americans complain to the FBI that they’ve fallen victim to Internet crime. Scams and other fraudulent activity are costing the public about $2.7 billion every year, according to the FBI’s associated agency, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). […]

Learn about cookie stuffing and other affiliate scams: Internet Scambusters #858 If you’re a blogger who uses ads to monetize your site, or an online merchant with an affiliate program, you may be a victim of cookie stuffing. This tactic aims to steal compensation for online sales that rightfully belong to someone else. Even end-use […]

Wise up to these crooks in our latest tour of travel scams: Internet Scambusters #857 Is it real or is it a travel scam? Sometimes vacationers can’t tell when a local spins them a story that seems to have a ring of truth. We’ve been reporting on travel scams for more than a decade and […]

What you need to know about class action lawsuits and related scams: Internet Scambusters #856 What do you do when you receive a notification that you’re involved in a class action lawsuit? Is it genuine or a scam? And how do you respond if it’s the real deal? We have the answers to these and […]

Why that chipcard may not be as safe as you think: Internet Scambusters #855 Although they’re still a lot safer than the old types, new chipcards that replace cards with a magnetic strip, they’re not as invulnerable as you might have thought. That’s because scammers have learned how to steal information from them as we […]

Young people are targets and victims as Instagram users hit one billion: Internet Scambusters #854 There’s no doubting the success of social media site Instagram. But just like its parent company, Facebook, success also draws in scammers like bees to honey. In this week’s issue, we outline the latest Instagram scams and signpost where you […]

Snippets issue highlights unsafe padlock icons, new scam payment tactics and phony water safety check: Internet Scambusters #853 That padlock icon in your browser address bar that you used to rely on to signal website safety can no longer be trusted — because crooks are now using them as well. In this week’s Snippets issue, […]

6 psychological tricks romance scammers use: Internet Scambusters #852 Romance scams have been around for years but they still work, netting crooks their biggest haul from con tricks. Why do they succeed, costing Americans more than $143 million a year? In this week’s issue, we’ll explain the subtle (and not so subtle) psychological tricks they […]