Flimflam, scam, con, shakedown, racket . . . to borrow Shakespeare's phrase, "A fraud by any other name would be as deceitful." Scams have been perpetrated on individuals and companies for at least 2,500 years, and the tools used to carry out the crimes are ever-changing. An expansive list of possible scam scenarios will not likely cover all possibilities. Learning to beware of the signs of potential fraud and how to respond is a more effective method to protect yourself from becoming the victim of an online scam. Here a few hints on how to prevent online scams - and what to do if you’ve been targeted.

In my work with church audits, I sometimes have to report evidence of possible fraud – questionable charges, missing money, etc. It's a tough report to make since no one wants to accept that financial fraud takes place in a church. How can church leaders enact measures to prevent internal theft and fraud without making it seem that no one can be trusted?