Every year, thousands of companies are fooled into buying "bargain" business supplies such as paper rolls for debit and credit card machines. These scams begin with a salesperson claiming to be your regular supplier. The salesperson indicates he or she can provide you with a "special offer". He or she warns you that prices will be going up soon.

You check the bill when it arrives and realize the supplier was not your regular supplier and the price charged was not a bargain at all. The price may be 50% to 300% higher than usual.

Companies are also fooled by fraudsters using business directories. You may be asked to verify your business information for a listing in a particular directory. You provide the information only to find out you have been charged hundreds of dollars to be listed in a directory no one has ever heard about.

• Be suspicious of any supplier that is claiming to be passing along significant savings before price increases come into effect.
• Verify whether the contract you have with your payment processor includes the supply of paper rolls.
• Don't assume that you have done business with the company before - check your records.

After seeing your resume posted online, fraudsters may contact you offering the opportunity to work as a "secret shopper" testing the services of a cheque-cashing or a money transfer company. The offer usually contains a cheque along with instructions for you to cash the cheque and transfer a portion of the sum over a money transfer service.

• Beware if you find yourself in this scenario. If you cash the cheque and it turns out to be fraudulent, you could be held accountable for the entire monetary loss by your bank.

• The Bureau is unaware of any legitimate organizations using this technique. Beware when being approached to transfer money.

Like millions of Canadians, you might search the Internet for health-related information. While there is plenty of reliable information to be found at the click of a mouse, there is also much to cause concern. All too often you find Web sites promoting fraudulent "cure-all" health products. The promoters of these products promise quick cures and easy solutions to everything from obesity to diabetes, and cancer.

You may find websites promoting health treatments or cures that are untested, fraudulent or just do not work. Be cautious about any site that promotes a "miracle" cure; otherwise, you may end up being the victim of a scam that will cheat you of your time, money and, most importantly, your health.

Watch for the following warning signs and you will decrease your chances of becoming a victim of fraud:

• Beware of advertisements that promise too much. Think twice before buying a product that claims it can do it all.
• Steer clear of a product that claims to be a "scientific breakthrough". Genuine scientific discoveries make front-page news. If the first or only place you learn about a new treatment is through an Internet advertisement, television advertisement, or through the mail, be suspicious.
• Keep your guard up when advertisements mention scientific evidence. Advertisements that are long on technical jargon may be short on proof. The presence of a doctor in an advertisement is no guarantee the product works. Scam artists have been known to dress models to look like experts.
• Do not be swayed by a "success story" or so-called "patient testimonial". Despite what the company claims, there is no guarantee that "John Doe of Hometown, Canada" has achieved the advertised results, or is even a real person.
• A money-back guarantee is no proof that a product works, or that the company is legitimate.

• Consult your health care practitioner before trying any new treatment. A doctor, nurse, or health care professional who knows your medical condition is your best source of information.

Have you ever received an offer telling you that you have won a lottery that you do not remember entering? Were you asked to pay a fee or taxes to claim your prize? There is an ever-growing number of lottery offers advising consumers they have hit the jackpot.

Many prize pitches are actually designed to get you to pay money for a prize that never comes, or is of no value.

• Legitimate lotteries do not require a winner to pay any fees up front, such as taxes or a security deposit before receiving a prize.
• Carefully examine the terms and conditions of any lottery before entering.

Job opportunity scams in the marketplace are often designed simply to steal your money. These fraudulent schemes frequently require you to invest money before you even begin to work or before you are given details on the type of opportunities available. Sometimes there really are no jobs available.

These fraudulent work schemes could also demand much more of your time than you could have imagined. In the end, often what seemed too good to be true turns out to be just that.

To avoid wasting your time and money, watch for the following signs that may warn you that a job opportunity might be fraudulent:

• claims of little effort required and extremely high earning potential;
• requirements for you to invest money upfront; and
• claims that "no experience" is necessary.