Beware: Top 10 Scams of the Yea !!

http://mashable.com/2012/03/10/top-scams/?WT.mc_id=en_my_stories&utm_...

Scams, much like viral cat videos, are a staple of the Internet. Even the savviest of Internet users can still get tangled in the web’s latest harmful trick — such as these 10 highlighted from the past year.

The Better Business Bureau has released this infographic, charting the biggest consumer scams of 2011. Their rankings are based on the volume and spikes in complaints, the economic climate and major events exploited by scammers, information collected by its Scam Source, and alerts issued through local BBBs during 2011.

SEE ALSO: Buyer Beware: BBB Highlights Top 10 Online Scams [INFOGRAPHIC]
http://mashable.com/2011/07/23/bbb-top10-scams/

Who would know better about how to deal with online scams and swindles than the Better Business Bureau (BBB)? When people are ripped off, the trusted organization is the first place many victims will go to file a complaint, and this infographic shows you the top 10 scams that ensnared unsuspecting victims in the U.S. and Canada last year, as reported to the BBB.

It’s better to ask questions first than file a complaint later, and the BBBtells us that in this infographic, an inquiry consists of “a customer seeking out our business information,” and that generally happens before a purchase. The BBB handles complaints after purchases as well, which are listed separately on the table below.

As you’re probably aware, most scams won’t work unless a prospective victim willingly participates. So keep in mind: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The number one scam of the year is attributed to someone pretending to be the Better Business Bureau itself — an email sent mostly to small business owners, which downloaded information-stealing malware.

If these scams seem like tricks you’ve seen, don’t fear (too much). To fall victim to a scam, you generally need to actively follow instructions to give away your personal data.

Did you see any of these scams this year? Let us know in the comments.