Professor Fraud Archives

The 12 Scams of Christmas: Bonus Reel - Gift Cards, Check Washing, RFID Sleeves, Fraud Examination MBA

Concluding Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Bonus Reel:  Gift Cards, Check...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #12 - Secret Skimmer Fraud

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #12:  Secret Skimmer...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #11 - Fraudulent Check Scam

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #11:  Fraudulent Check...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #10 - Phony Cyber Shopping Sites

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #10: Phony Cyber...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #9 - The Phony Salesclerk Scam

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #9: The Phony...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #8 - ATM Frauds

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #8: ATM Frauds ...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #7 - Hi-Tech Pickpocketing

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #7: Hi-Tech Pickpocketing...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #6 - Credit Card Refund Fraud

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #6: Credit Card...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: # 5 - Phony Charity Scams

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #5: Phony Charity...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #4 - Phony Order Confirmation / Phishing Fraud

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #4: Phony Order...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #3 - Counterfeit Goods

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #3: Counterfeit Goods ...

The 12 Scams of Christmas: #2 - House Parties & ID Theft

Continuing with Professor Fraud's Twelve Scams of Christmas, here is ... Scam #2: House Parties...

The 12 Scams of Christmas - #1: Pickpockets & Identity Theft

The Holiday Season brings out the best in people.  Well, most people. It also brings...

Election Fraud: What to look for ... Where to report it ... And other tips

Tuesday is Election Day, and with it comes a lot of talk in the media...

Miscellany: Belly Of A Snake Nominee; The Professor Gets Listed

Greetings Professor Fraud Fans! Today, while my primary computer continues to recover from a major...

Tired of all of the fraud and corruption? You have 5 days to do something about it! Register to vote!

Are you sick and tired of all of the fraud and corruption in Illinois government?...

Debit Card Fraud Avoidance Tips

The recent rash debit card fraud reported in Buffalo Grove and Wheeling has piqued the...

Tired of all of the fraud and corruption? Well, what are you doing tonight? Become a BGA Citizen Watchdog!

Since 1923 the Better Government Association (BGA), has been Chicago's foremost independent, nonpartisan watchdog...

Court's Message to Fraudsters: Do the Crime, Do the Time

There's one address that Chicago-area financial fraudsters don't like: 219 South Dearborn.  That's the address...

NW Suburban ATM Thefts Highlight Debit Card Risks

Police in the Northwest suburbs of Buffalo Grove and Wheeling are reporting that scores of...

Virus Warning: Delete emails with "Here you have" in the subject line

As of late Thursday, stories of viral emails with the subject line "Here you Have"...

Feds indict aircraft leasing firm, bosses in $50 M fraud scheme

Maybe it's unique to Chicago, but it has been my experience that when you ask...

FRAUD ALERT: Robo-Calls Steal IL Bank Account/PIN Information

Illinois bank customers are at risk of handing over their account access information to a...

For fraudsters with no limit to how low they will go: the Belly of the Snake Award

As someone who follows "all things fraud", I am often amazed at how low some...

SCAM ALERT: Phony iPad Tester Scam Hits Facebook

You're checking your Facebook page, seeing what your friends have posted, when you notice...

Fraud at nonprofits rampant; Archdiocesan website can help

Recently the Chicago Tribune and other media outlets reported on the case of Theresa Carlquist,...

Should our local and state governments be subjected to forensic audits?

  In his Chicago Tribune column today, John Kass reports that Democratic Chicago Alderman -...

Feds charge far north suburban man in $3.7 million investment fraud scheme

With all of the Blago verdict hub-bub, this story almost got past Professor Fraud. But...

Give 'em the old Blago-Dazzle: Life imitates art at Federal court

Give 'em the old razzle dazzle.Razzle dazzle them..... How can they hear the truth...

ALERT: Beware the Facebook "Dislike" button scam

Chicago Tribune photo by Michael Tercha. Guess what?!?! A friend of yours on Facebook...

Of Beers, Blago and the BGA

Andy Shaw, Executive Director of the Better Government Association The Better Government Association has...

Rest In Peace Firefighter Christopher Wheatley

I couldn't park in front of my house today. But I did not mind....

Your Identity Was Stolen, But You Don't Know It. The IRS Does, But They Ain't Talking. A New Law May Change That.

Imagine your surprise. You get a phone call from a collection agent. He's collecting on a...