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National Consumer Protection Week: Scams, Spams & Phishing

BOSTON (CBS) - This is National Consumers Protection Week. This is a national campaign to help consumers make better-informed decisions and avoid being scammed. Billions of dollars are lost each year to scammers.

All this week we are going to be talking about scams. Answer your phone, open your e-mails and the scammers find you.

On average there are at least 6 email scams every day that end up in my junk email and who knows how many my spam filter manages to catch.

This week alone I have inherited huge sums of money from China, Nigeria, South Africa, and Scotland. I have been chosen by the US treasury to receive $500,000.

Wells Fargo sent me a notice that my account has been flagged for unauthorized use, Chase told me they have funds they need to direct deposit into my bank account. Capitol One determined that different computers had logged into my account and my passwords were comprised.

I don't have an account with any of these banks.

An email from Fed Ex as to a package they wanted to deliver so just click on this link to print out the label. And I won the lottery in Bulgaria, Africa, Canada and the UK. Although I never bought tickets for the lotteries in Bulgaria, Africa, Canada and the UK.

I got ads for a belly buster, diabetes relief, chin tightening, obesity control, flashlights, phones, medications, wrinkle control and more.

Every one of these emails was dangerous. Some asked for personal information including bank routing numbers and credit card numbers. Others are malware and if you click on their link you have just invited viruses, worms, or Trojan horses onto your computer or worse the scammer may now have control of your computer.

Do not open these e-mails, do not click on third party links and certainly do not give out any personal information to an unsolicited email.

One more thing: Report Scams -

If you think you may have been scammed: File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Visit ftc.gov/idtheft, where you'll find out how to minimize your risk of identity theft.
Report scams to the State Attorney General.
If you get unsolicited email offers or spam, send the messages to spam@uce.gov.
If you get what looks like lottery material from a foreign country through the postal mail, take it to your local postmaster.

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You can hear Dee Lee's expert financial advice on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 each weekday at 1:55 p.m., 3:55 p.m., and 7:55 p.m.

Subscribe to Dee's Money Matters newsletter here.

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