— The most prevalent scams that took advantage of consumers and small business owners across the U.S. in 2010 focused on job hunters and those struggling to make money or get out of debt, the Better Business Bureau says.

The top 10 reported for the year included:



Job Hunter Scams – Scams targeting job hunters vary and include attempts to gain access to personal information, such as bank account and social security numbers. In addition, requirements to pay an advance fee in order to be considered for the job are common with job scams.

Debt Relief and Settlement Services – These companies often require upfront fees and potentially leave the consumer drowning in even more debt. Complaints to the BBB about debt relief and settlement services increased by approximately 30 percent in 2010, according to year-end estimates.



Work from Home Schemes – Some work from home schemes promise to teach the secrets to making money online, others claim you can make money assembling items at home or get paid to be a mystery shopper. Some victims even found that their opportunity to work from home was a job requiring them to store stolen goods.



Timeshare Resellers – Complaints about the timeshare industry – including deceptive resellers – increased by more than 40 percent according to 2010 estimates. Timeshare owners who are desperate to get rid of their costly vacation property are being targeted by companies that claim they have an eager buyer.



Not So ‘Free’ Trial Offers – Misleading free trial offers online for diet supplements, penny auctions and money-making schemes blanket the Internet resulting in thousands of complaints every year. The free trial offers seem to be no-risk but complainants state they were repeatedly billed every month and found it extremely difficult to cancel.



Traveling Home Repair/Roofers – BBBs across the country received complaints from consumers who answered a knock from a door to door salesman or traveling worker who eventually failed to deliver on promises to fix their roof or conduct other work to the home.



Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams – The victim, often a senior citizen, receives a letter in the mail or phone call from someone pretending to be with Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Clearing House or a phony foreign lottery. The scammer claims that the victim has won millions but must first wire hundreds or even thousands of dollars back to the scammers to cover taxes or some other bogus fee. The victim wires the money, but the prize never arrives.



Identity Theft – There are many ways a person can become a victim of identity theft. Through low-tech theft, phishing emails, vishing phone calls, smishing text messages or even through no fault of your own as the result of a corporate data breach, millions fall victim to identity theft every year.



Advance Fee Loan Scams – A perpetual problem, advance fee loan scams prey on consumers and business owners who are struggling financially.

 

Over-Payment Scams - Over-payment scams typically target small business owners, landlords or individuals with rooms to rent and sellers on classifieds or websites like Craigslist. The scammers overpay the amount for the services or products and then ask the victim to wire the extra amount back to them or to another fraudulent entity. Ultimately, the check is forged and the victim is out the money wired back to the scammers.