Financial fraud is increasing annually and the organized crime syndicates running the scams learn new tricks all the time. Often consumers who are victimized by these criminals remark that they briefly considered that it might be a scam but since that seemed improbable and the “opportunity" was so tempting, they quickly brushed away their suspicions. Now you can have an app in your handset that gives you advice on fraudulent financial activities to help you avoid such schemes. Scam Detector is a free application that may be used on any computer with an Internet connection or on iOS or Android smartphones. It focuses on over 550 of the world's most fraudulent activities. Scam Detector (www.scam-detector.com) has been accessed to date in 104 countries. The app provides awareness of and solutions to fight financial fraud. It is a trusted source for consumers seeking information and guidance on typical fraudulent situations that they may encounter. The app is filled with easily accessible educational tools, crime prevention resources and the ability to share news of fraudulent activities at the click of a button. Scam detector exposes in detail common financial scams around the world. Users of the app will learn how these scams work and how to prevent themselves from being victimized. The app is kept up to date, with new scams being added periodically. The scams are grouped into nine categories, according to their industry: auto, travel, employment, real estate, social networking, financial, online auctions, telephone and face-to-face. Every scam in the app can be instantly shared on Facebook, Twitter or by e-mail, while users can submit their own scams. Scam Detector offers the users of its web-based app the ability to rate scams. This allows consumers to check the scams out, spot the most dangerous ones in their area and then share that information so that others are more aware. The optimized search feature in Scam Detector enables consumers to search by actual text from scams, such as “I have been robbed" or “You are the beneficiary." Recently, Scam Detector was a winner of a Consumer Champion Award from the Government of Alberta, Canada. The awards recognize organizations, businesses and individuals that demonstrate commitment and innovation in promoting fairness through consumer advocacy and education.
