Be wary of people you meet online – that handsome man or pretty girl may not be what they seem. This article states ” researchers found that 52 per cent of people surveyed online had heard of the online romance scam when it was explained to them, and that one in every 50 online adults (2 per cent) know someone personally who had fallen victim to it, University of Leicester which led the research said.” This happens more often than you may think…

Another example of this type of “love scam”:

Facebook Love Scam

http://wp.me/pP9VV-1p

The explanations provided here are easy to understand and can enlighten a consumer so that they don’t get taken by a fraudster.

http://www.examiner.com/financial-fraud-in-jacksonville/facebook-love-scam

Be skeptical. Some fraudsters will woo you for months before moving in to steal your money!

Fear of Retaliation

Whether we are talking fraud, corruption, or abuse fear often prevents the average American from speaking up.  The fear an employee experiences over potentially losing his or her job turns quickly into rationalizations and doubt.  “If everybody is doing it is it really fraud?”  “No one else has reported it so perhaps I am just imagining things.”  The same is true for government abuse and waste.  “These are powerful people.”

Beliefs That No One Will Listen

We have all given up or not started something because we believe no one will listen.  Why would they listen to me?  I bet no one even checks those tips.  Sound familiar?

Lack of Knowledge on the Steps Necessary to Report Fraud & Abuse

Most people are not aware of the many ways to report fraud & abuse however, most police departments and government entities have tip hot-lines, and medium to large corporations typically have a way to report suspicious activity.

Encourage your friends to refuse to stand for fraud and abuse any longer.  Share ways to report fraud on social networking sites and via e-mail.  Unfortunately, if the few individuals who think about reporting fraud fail to do so because of fear or because they believe no one will listen there will be no way to increase accountability.  There are initiatives to strengthen whistle-blower protection laws and corporations are setting up whistle-blower hot-lines however, the ownership for taking the steps to report fraud & abuse starts with YOU.