WASHINGTON, DC...The National Consumers League has a message for the 37 million web users: buyers beware of con artists lurking on the Internet.

Internet fraud reports have tripled in the last year according to the National Consumers League. In response, the League today unveiled new web pages for its Internet Fraud Watch (www.fraud.org/ifw.htm) and released the top 10 Internet scams. NCL also released first time state-by-state rankings of the top 20 locations for reports of fraud and victims of internet fraud.

"Internet Fraud Watch provides the latest information on types of Internet scams and gives tips on how to protect yourself from fraudulent deals," said NCL President Linda F. Golodner. "Our new web pages give consumers even more resources to avoid fraud."

Internet use is projected to grow 60 percent in 1997, with revenues reaching an estimated $12 billion. According to reports to the League, the most frequent subjects of Internet fraud are:

1. Internet and on-line services
2. General merchandise
3. Auctions
4. Pyramids and multilevel marketing
5. Business opportunities and franchises
6. Work-at-Home schemes
7. Prizes and sweepstakes
8. Credit card offers
9. Book sales
10. Magazine subscriptions

The most common signs of fraud are extravagant promises of profits, guarantees of credit regardless of bad credit history, incredibly low prices or prizes that require up front payments.

Internet Fraud Watch assists fraud victims by relaying reports daily to more than 150 law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada, including the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorneys General and police departments.

Surprisingly, more than 60 percent of Internet fraud victims pay by check, cash, or money orders, and 19 percent by credit card. Others pay by telephone bills, bank account debits, and wire transfers.

"Consumers lose between $10 to $10,000 in Internet scams," said Golodner. "Cybercrooks are in your wallet with a click of the mouse."

In 1997, the Internet Fraud Watch has received funding from MasterCard, NationsBank, MCI and Bell Atlantic.

The National Consumers League created Internet Fraud Watch in February 1996 to help consumers distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent promotions in cyberspace, to monitor the web for fraud, and route reports of suspected fraud to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to representing consumers on issues of concern such as fraud, health care, fair labor standards, food and drug safety, and telecommunications. NCL's three-pronged approach of research, education and advocacy has made it an effective advocate and source of information for consumers and workers.

NCL runs the National Fraud Information Center, which was created in 1992. NCL staff answers the NFIC 800 hotline, which consumers from across the United States and Canada can call to receive advice and tips on how to spot possible fraud and to report it. Fraud reports from consumers are sent within minutes to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys generals.

For more information, write or call the National Consumers League at 1701 K Street, N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 835-3323. Consumers can call NCL's National Fraud Information Center at (800) 876-7060. Or, log on to NCL on the Internet at www.nclnet.org and NFIC at www.fraud.org.