Don’t Be an Internet Con Artist’s April Fool, Be Careful of Smam Email

People right here in Shreveport and Bossier City have lost money to bogus offers they got in their email.

The Con Artists who send these emails know how to make their claims seem legitimate.

Some of the Con's make the message seem urgent, setting a deadlie for you to sign up for a service, or ask you to verify personal information like social security or credit card numbers.

Check out these tips that can help you avoid these scams:

• Protect your personal information. Only share credit card and personal information when you buy from a company you trust and know.
• If a company won't provide its name, street address, and telephone number, don't do business with them.
• Resist any urge to "act now" despite the offer and the terms. take your time because once you turn your money over to them, you might not get it back.
• Get it in writing before signing anything or sending payment and and review terms carefully. Be sure and read that small print.
• Don't fall for any offer that asks you to pay for a gift or prize. You should never pay for a "free" gift.

10 Ways to Spot an E-Mail Scam

1. Requests for personal information
No legitimate organization will ask for your social security, bank account or PIN number via e-mail – and none will include a link, sending you to a form to enter it. No matter how authentic these emails may look, ignore 'em.

2. Watch for typos or spelling mistakes
Scam artists are street smart, but many flunked basic grammar (or barely speak English). Look for mistakes like inappropriate hyphens or confusing "your" and "you're." If the note has multiple typos or grammatical errors, odds are it's not legitimate.

3. Clickable Web links in e-mails
Don't trust links to Web sites in e-mails. What might look like a legitimate address is often linked to a third-party site that looks official, but is actually run by thieves and scammers. These are the fast track to identity and financial theft.

4. 'Market research' or surveys that ask you for personal information.
Disguising scam e-mails as marketing is a classic ploy. You'll be asked to fill out a survey or enter a contest – requiring you to give personal information or "log on" to your account. Once you've done so, the scammers can use it themselves.

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