For example, scammers have figured out how to lure you on your cell phone. In this type of fraud, called smishing, a phony link from a major retailer appears in a text message offering, for instance, a $1,000 gift voucher. The goal? Grabbing your information.
And e-mail phishing scams have gotten more sophisticated. Some look like an e-mail to confirm a flight or an invoice from UPS.
Old-fashioned scams also work. There are plenty that come in the mail, as a knock on the door, or over the phone. For instance, callers who say they're from a reputable company offer to slash your credit-card interest rate or fix a computer virus they've detected. All you need to do is pay a fee or disclose sensitive financial information.
To add insult to injury, people who are scammed can be targeted by another scam: crooks who promise to recover your stolen money. They charge hundreds of dollars and don't recover your losses.
Bottom line: Never, ever give out your personal information or money to someone who seeks you out. And set up a fraud alert with the three major credit-reporting bureaus. Consumer Reports also recommends a security freeze, which blocks access to your credit report.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports' website. Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.
(Copyright © 2012 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. All Rights Reserved.)