According to state and federal sources, online fraud costs Americans at least $50 billion a year and that figure is expected to triple within five years as increasing numbers of homes and offices turn to the Internet for shopping and ordering.

Yes, despite aggressive attempts to warn the public through the media, victimization by Internet fraud continues to be the most rapidly growing problem reported to Forum and Northeast COMBAT’s Maine Center for the Public Interest.

Gerald Bartlett of Unity is only one of thousands who received an e-mail offering him vast wealth if he would allow funds from a foreign nation to be deposited in his bank account. This fraudulent practice, often referred to as the “Nigeria Scam” has many different names but almost always involves a letter in broken English claiming that a family member died and left an inheritance, that the writer is an escapee from a repressive regime, or some other sad story. The writer basically says, “If you let me deposit this money in your account, I will give you a handsome reward.” These offers are always bogus attempts to get your account numbers so the evildoers can gain access to your financial resources.

Bartlett told COMBAT, “I opened up a new account with only a few dollars in it. How could they hurt me if I only give them that account number?” Once the door is open to personal financial information, it’s hard to close. And if the crooks use that account to conduct fraudulent transactions, victims still could wind up losing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars. At best, their finances become confused and victims are embarrassed at the bank.

No matter what the online scheme, prevention is the best defense. COMBAT suggests Internet users clip this article out and post it on your refrigerator to remind them of the most common frauds, and what to avoid.

Prize offers

Shoppers usually have to do something to get their free prize, such as buying products they don’t really want or giving their credit card number “just for verification.”

Travel packages

“Free” or low-cost vacations can end up costing victims a bundle. Often the promoted travel deal requires consumers to pay hidden charges, for either an expensive hotel room or for the full cost of travel for a second person.

Investments

People lose millions of dollars to “get rich quick” schemes that involve gemstones, rare coins, oil gas leases, interactive TV licenses, or other “business opportunities.”

Recovery ploys

Anyone who falls prey to any of these scams could get a phone call or e-mail promising to get back or “recover” the money already lost. Of course, this comes at a price and people end up being cheated twice.

People should protect themselves by following these basic rules:

. Don’t do business with an unfamiliar company.

. Consumers should ask for, and wait until they receive, written information through the mail about the offer.

. Consumers should check out unfamiliar companies or suspicious offers by writing to Forum before responding. If it is a reputable company, the offer can wait.

. Don’t be pressured into a decision.

For years, consumer advocates have urged potential fraud victims to “just hang up” when telemarketers offered “too good to be true” luxury prizes and surefire “double your money” investments. COMBAT now extends the same warning about Internet offers. Many people simply say no to any such offers.

These scams should be reported to Northeast COMBAT through Forum. Send a printout of the e-mail, or forward it to ProtectME@consumerprotect.org. This address is for reports only, and COMBAT does not accept inquiries online. Include your name and street address.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.