For Immediate Release	CONTACT:	Holly Anderson
10/5/99		(202) 835-3323

From Bogus Invoices to Y2K Scams-
Businesses are Targets for Fraud

National Consumers League Unveils New Web Advice to
Help Businesses Avoid and Report Scams

WASHINGTON, DC . . . The National Consumers League unveiled a new section of its popular www.fraud.org Web site to help businesses avoid common scams and report them. The Scams Against Businesses section, at www.fraud.org/scamsagainstbusinesses, provides information about how to recognize the different types of fraud and advice about what to do if a business is victimized. NCL's two fraud-fighting programs, the National Fraud Information Center and the Internet Fraud Watch, have focused primarily on providing information to and taking complaints from individual consumers. But they aren't the only victims of fraud. Businesses, from small "Mom and Pop" stores to large corporations are targets for a variety of illegal schemes.

"We want to encourage businesses to learn about these scams and educate their employees," said Susan Grant, NFIC/IFW Director and Vice President for Public Policy at the National Consumers League. "They can also help stop fraud by reporting scams to law enforcement agencies through our hotline or the online form on our Web site."

NCL created the National Fraud Information Center in 1992 to offer advice and take reports about telemarketing fraud. The Internet Fraud Watch, which was created in 1996 and operates in tandem with the NFIC, provides counseling and takes reports about online scams. Fraud reports from consumers are relayed to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.

The announcement about the new Scams Against Businesses information was made in connection with Project Mailbox III, an ongoing campaign by the Federal Trade Commission and other partners to combat mail fraud. "Whether the pitches are made by mail, telephone, or online, consumers and businesses need to know how to defend themselves against scams by following the common-sense tips that we provide," said Ms. Grant.
NCL created the new Web site section with support from the Yellow Pages Publishers Association, a nonprofit trade organization representing both the major utility directory publishers and many independent directory publishers.

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. NCL's three-pronged approach of research, education and advocacy has made it an effective representative and source of information for consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to representing consumers on issues of concern.