Tips to Avoid Being a Victim of Iowa Advance Fee Fraud

Have you paid someone or a company a significant fee only to receive nothing in return? You are not alone. There are many victims of advance fee fraud in Iowa and throughout the United States.

Advance fees are something that the FBI warns about, and could occur when someone pays an amount for a loan, gift, or investment and then sees very little or absolutely nothing in return. Most of the time a scam artist will present it in a way in which you may think you will receive a more substantial amount of money or even products in return for your advance fee payment.

Clever ways scam artists pass off advance fees are by explaining that the fees are for one of the following:

  • Processing fees
  • Charges for notarized documents
  • Taxes
  • Finder's fee
  • Other miscellaneous charges

Advance fee fraud in Iowa can take on many forms, such as lottery winnings, the sale of products or services, or even "found money" scams. Some of these scams will sound fishy, causing a red flag to be raised in your mind. Like the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. However, there may be other advance fee scams that will sound legitimate due to the cleverness of the scam artist involved.

In order to avoid becoming a victim of an advanced fee scheme in Iowa consider these tips:

  • Conduct research on the business before paying anyone any fee.
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints about a specific company.
  • Ask questions. Make sure you really know what you are getting into.
  • If the business uses a post office box instead of an actual street address, be leery.
  • If you can, go visit the business in person before exchanging any money with them
  • Do not sign a circumvention agreement or a nondisclosure agreement.

There are many bad people out there looking to make a fast buck at your expense. By keeping these tips in mind, you can check out salespeople or businesses before sending anyone any money.

If you have been a victim of advance fee fraud in Iowa, please contact an experienced Cedar Rapids financial fraud lawyer at the law firm of Brady Preston Gronlund today at (319) 866-9277 for a free legal consultation.