This has been a busy — and, unfortunately, productive — year for scammers trying to separate us from our money or our valuable personal information.
Tax scams — in which victims receive a call demanding immediate payment of past-due taxes — were at the top of the list among the first 10,000 complaints to the tracker, accounting for more complaints than the next three categories combined.
“Scammers are all basically impostors,” said Mary E. Power, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the umbrella organization for 113 local, independent BBBs across the U.S, Canada and Mexico.
"Three of the top four scams reported to us are those that scare people with threats of arrest, lawsuits or other frightening actions. Scammers are pretending to be government agents, lawyers, debt collectors, police officers. They engage directly with you, so your best bet to avoid being scammed is to stop engaging. Hang up the phone, delete the email, shut the door.”
Here's a look at the Top 10 scams of 2015 from the BBB's  Scam Tracker, a new national project launched earlier this year. Also included is  the percentage of reports they accounted for, and the bureau's explanation of how each scam works:
1 - Tax scams (IRS and CRA), 24%
You receive a phone call from someone who claims to be with the IRS. They claim you owe money in back taxes and will be arrested or face legal consequences if you do not pay (usually by wire or prepaid debit card). The caller ID is spoofed to appear to be a government agency or the police.
2 - Debt collections, 8.3%
You receive a phone call from someone claiming that you have an unpaid debt. You are threatened with garnishments, lawsuits, even jail time if you don’t pay right now. The scammer will often use caller ID spoofing and pretend to be a government agency or law enforcement in order to further invoke fear.
3 - Sweepstakes/prizes/gifts, 8%
You receive a call, letter or email claiming you’ve won a prize in a sweepstakes. In order to receive the prize, you are instructed to send a fee to cover expenses associated with delivery, processing or insurance. The prize is not real; you should never have to pay money to claim a prize you have won.
commenting on note 3, I met some of these crooks in MCC, MDC, Fort Dix and Otisville.They prison got sentences from 2 years to 12 years. The easiest tip is to simply hang up the phone if and when you get a cal from such a scammer     

4 - Tech support, 6%
You are contacted by “technicians” claiming to have detected a virus or security threat on your computer and, for a fee, can log in and correct the problem remotely. These callers are actually hackers trying to steal money or sensitive computer passwords and/or damage computers with malicious software.
5 - Government grant, 5.7%
You receive a phone call, email or letter informing you that you’ve qualified for a government grant. In order to receive the grant, however, you are instructed to send money as a processing or delivery fee, usually by wire transfer or prepaid debit card.
6 - Advanced fee loan, 3.8%
While searching for loan information, you see an enticing ad and click through to the website. You fill out an application and soon receive an email or phone call advising that you are approved for the loan, but you must first send a processing fee, security deposit or insurance. You pay the “fee,” but never see the loan.
7 - Credit cards, 3%
The scammer pretends to be from your bank or credit card issuer, and they claim that you are now eligible for a lower interest rate or that they need to verify a recent transaction. Consumers provide the scammer with their credit card number and security code to “verify” their identity.
8 - Work from home, 2.6%
While looking for a job online, you answer an ad for making big bucks while working from home. The job may be stuffing envelopes, posting advertisements or shipping packages. You could have your identity stolen when you fill out the employment forms or even end up handling stolen merchandise.
9 - Fake check/money order, 2.4%
This can happen any time someone is paying you for goods or services (even when you are selling something online). You receive a check in the mail that is larger than the amount owed, and you are asked to deposit the check and wire the difference. The check is a fake and when it bounces, you’re out the money.
 commenting on number 9, my cousin fell for this scam,deposited the check and in the end of the day, the bank closed his account. This crook is still around so seller or buyer beware. Hopefully, he will be caught and sent to Fort Dix too.   

10 - Lottery, 2.4%
You receive a call, letter or email advising that you have won a large amount of money in a foreign lottery but you have to pay upfront for taxes and fees. Such lotteries are illegal. Sometimes you may be sent a check as partial payment, but the check will be counterfeit.
Tim Evans is The Star's consumer advocate. Call him at (317) 444-6204. Follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim.