Harm Reduction Initiative

Contact Us Immediately If You Think You Are Being Scammed
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Don’t Be a Victim of Internet Crime

Be wary if you receive an e-mail telling you you’ve won a lottery or a contest, especially if you don’t remember entering.

When making online purchases, be wary if the seller only accepts cash or wire transfers.

Be suspicious when additional fees are requested to complete a transaction.

Go to a company’s official website by typing in the URL instead of clicking on a link from an unsolicited e-mail.

Don’t assume a company you’d like to do business with is legitimate based on the appearance of its website—do your due diligence (Better Business Bureau).

Don’t believe promises of large sums of money in return for your cooperation.

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Be leery of requests of investment offers received through unsolicited e-mail.

Be cautious when asked to provide your personally identifiable information.

Don't Become A Victim Of A Con Artist

Know who you’re dealing with. If you haven’t heard of the individual or company, do your research (for example, check with the Better Business Bureau).

Make sure you fully understand any agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.

Beware of any up-front fees—most legitimate service providers request fees after the work is done. (In the case of financial loans, fees are typically paid after the loan has been approved).

If you win a legitimate prize or inherit money, you shouldn’t have to pay anything up-front to claim the funds.

Don’t wire money to someone you don’t know. Once your money is wired, it’s very difficult for law enforcement to help you recover the funds.

Be wary if you’re asked to keep the details of any transaction with an individual or business confidential.