Consumer Fraud Flashcards
In credit repair scams, the fraudster promises to “erase” or “doctor” an applicant’s credit history, but in reality there is no way to erase bad credit. (TF)
True
What is the primary difference between a Ponzi scheme and a pyramid scheme?
A. A pyramid scheme promotes itself as a pyramid whereas a Ponzi scheme promotes itself as an investment opportunity.
B. In a pyramid scheme, old investors are paid with money from new investors.
C. A Ponzi scheme is promoted by encouraging victim members to recruit new members.
D. All pyramid schemes are legal whereas all Ponzi schemes are illegal.
A. A pyramid scheme promotes itself as a pyramid whereas a Ponzi scheme promotes itself as an investment opportunity.
Which of the following types of elder fraud schemes often involves property that does not exist or is significantly different than promised?
A. Vacation scheme
B. Grandparent scheme
C. Tech-support scheme
D. Home improvement scheme
A. Vacation scheme
Maria, a successful restaurateur, has been informed of an unusually attractive investment opportunity by a recent acquaintance and decides to invest in it. Several months and a couple of underwhelming payments later, Maria grows frustrated with the diminishing disbursements and attempts to withdraw her money. After several weeks of delay, she realizes that the promoter seems to have vanished, along with her investment. Maria is the victim of which of the following fraudulent ploys?
A. A Ponzi scheme
B. An illegal pyramid
C. A fly and buy scheme
D. A dog and pony scam
A. A Ponzi scheme
A pyramid scheme is designed to pay off its earliest investors.
A. True
B. False
True
In a(n) _____________ scheme, the company that initially defrauded a consumer contacts that consumer and offers to help retrieve the lost money. However, the investigation requires an up-front fee, and the consumer is swindled again.
A. Advance-fee
B. Retrieval
C. Double-hustle
D. Scavenger
D. Scavenger
Unscrupulous debt consolidation schemes include each of the following EXCEPT:
A. The debt consolidation company writes a letter to the debtor’s creditors and arranges a payment plan.
B. The debt consolidation company charges an up-front processing fee and then disappears.
C. The debt consolidation company collects payments but does not appropriately forward them.
D. The debt consolidation company guarantees the debtor will receive a loan or credit card regardless of the debtor’s credit ratings.
A. The debt consolidation company writes a letter to the debtor’s creditors and arranges a payment plan.
Which of the following is a common red flag of elder fraud schemes?
A. New friends who appear suddenly and without prior mention
B. Large bank account withdrawals with no explanation
C. The discovery of signed or forged legal documents
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
A pyramid scheme is promoted by encouraging victim investors to recruit new members. The more members recruited, the higher the investor rises in the ranks of the enterprise and the more money the investor is supposed to make.
A. True
B. False
True
A confidence scheme designed to part victims from their money by falsely promising the future delivery of a product or service in exchange for an up-front payment is called a(n):
A. Scavenger scheme
B. Home-based business scheme
C. Advance-fee scheme
D. Bait and switch scheme
C. Advance-fee scheme
Common scenarios used to commit advance-fee scams include the following:
A home improvement contractor requires prepayment for materials.
Notice of a supposed inheritance from an unknown relative is received.
Various exorbitant fees are required prior to securing financial assistance or advice.
Automatic debit program schemes occur when fraudsters obtain a consumer’s bank account information and then use this information to draft money from the consumer’s bank account without that person’s consent.
A. True
B. False
True
Victims of consumer fraud are more likely to be organizations or businesses rather than individuals.
A. True
B. False
False
Telemarketing schemes target individuals, not businesses.
A. True
B. False
False
Glenn has just inherited a large amount of money from a deceased relative. Several weeks later, a colleague of Glenn’s suggests an investment in a security that is sure to generate returns of 20% every six months. Glenn is intrigued, but he is also worried that it might be a Ponzi scheme. Which of the following actions should Glenn take before investing?
A. Find out if the financial manager is licensed and if the security is registered
B. Determine if the investment’s returns have been abnormally consistent
C. Ensure that he can comprehend the details and strategy of the investment
D. All of the above
D. All the above
All organizations with a pyramid structure are illegal.
A. True
B. False
False