http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com en-us http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com N/A financiallearningnetwork@gmail.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:19:24 MST 20 http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/75/1/Costly-Coupon-Scams Article Courtesy of The Federal Trade Commission Cents-off coupons are providing big bucks for scam artists who offer business opportunity and work-at-home schemes featuring coupon certificate booklets and coupon clipping services. Using the Internet to market these so-called opportunities, fraudulent promoters are promising entrepreneurs, charity groups and consumers earnings of "hundreds per week" and "thousands per month" simply by selling coupon certificate booklets or cutting coupons at home. The fact is that consumers and manufacturers are getting clipped in these costly-and deceptive-coupon capers. Julianna Sweeney Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MDT http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/76/1/%26%2339%3BNet-Based-Business-Opportunities%3A-Are-Some-Flop-portunities%3F Article Courtesy of The Federal Trade Commission Whether it's recruiting people to sell so-called Internet-access devices, placing kiosks with Internet access in public places, or dealing in other Internet-related activities, consumers are being lured to the vast commercial potential of the Web by business promoters. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that many of these business opportunities are scams that promise more than they can possibly deliver. Julianna Sweeney Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/59/1/Prime-Bank-%26-Prime-Note-Scams 'Prime bank' is a term usually used to describe the top three or four dozen banks in the world. Prime banks trade high quality and low risk instruments such as world paper, International Monetary Fund bonds, and Federal Reserve notes. You should be very wary when you hear this term--it is often used by fraudsters looking to lend legitimacy to their cause. Prime bank programs often claim investors' funds will be used to purchase and trade "prime bank" financial instruments for huge gains. Unfortunately these "prime bank" instruments never exist, at least not in the hands of these third parties and people lose all of their money. Richard Gandon Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/2/1/Protecting-Yourself-from-Investment-Scams First Installment in our multi-part Series Each year both new and experienced investors fall prey to scams. They are especially vulnerable at the start of the new year, when resolutions to eliminate debt accumulate $$ or make dramatic changes in their lives are prevalent.  Richard Gandon Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/81/1/Buyer-Beware%3A-Identifying-Health-Insurance-Fraud (NewsUSA) - Scam insurance is not new - criminals have been selling fraudulent policies since health insurance came into being. But with today's skyrocketing health care costs, more consumers are seeking affordable access to quality care, which provides scam artists with fertile hunting grounds. Julianna Sweeney Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/32/1/Combat-Identity-Theft Identity Theft is booming.  Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.  If you think that your identity has been compromised follow the steps below:  1. Contact all three of the Credit Bureaus to report fraud.  We suggest that you call all three credit bureaus first and then follow up with a letter.  Ask the credit bureau to put a fraud Alert on your account. EquifaxReport fraud: 1-800-525-6285 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 ExperianReport fraud: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnionReport fraud: 1-800-680-7289 Mailing Address: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634   Julianna Sweeney Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 MDT http://www.financiallearningnetwork.com/articles/48/1/Eight-Common-Predatory-Lending-Schemes It's pretty easy to isolate the good from the bad in a lot of professions: a dentist laughing gleefully every time you flinch, a plumber demanding payment up front while your knees disappear underwater, a real estate agent who never returns your call or is constantly dragging you to inappropriate houses. You wouldn't let any of these hang around long enough to do any real damage. A loan officer is a little bit harder to quantify, largely because the bad ones often don't show their true colors until late in the house-buying process. Features Editor Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:00:00 MDT