The Hawaii Better Business Bureau has seen its share of scams over the years.

Many times it is the first local organization to know about a developing scam, and it works with law enforcement agencies to provide information on potential frauds.

The BBB recently released its list of the top 10 scams of 2010 across North America:

>> Job hunter scams — Scams include attempts to gain access to personal information such as bank account or Social Security numbers and requirements to pay a fee to be considered for the job.

>> Debt relief and settlement services — These companies often require upfront fees and potentially leave the consumer drowning in even more debt. Complaints to BBB about debt relief and settlement services increased by about 30 percent in 2010.

>> Work-from-home schemes — Some work-from-home schemes promise to teach the secrets to making money online. Others claim you can make money assembling items at home or get paid to be a mystery shopper. Instead of getting paid, you can end up losing hundreds or thousands of dollars.

>> Time-share resellers — Complaints to the BBB about the time-share industry increased by more than 40 percent in 2010. Time-share owners desperate to get rid of their costly vacation property are being targeted by companies that claim they have an eager buyer. The company tells the seller they just have to pay up to several thousand dollars to cover fees. After paying the fees, the seller never hears from the company again.

>> Not so “free” trial offers — Misleading free trial offers online for diet supplements, penny auctions and moneymaking schemes blanket the Internet. Complainants say they were repeatedly billed every month and found it extremely difficult to cancel.

>> Itinerant home repair/roofers — BBBs across the country received complaints from consumers who answered a knock from a door-to-door salesman or itinerant worker who eventually failed to deliver on promises to fix their roof or conduct other home work. Complaints to BBB about roofing companies rose by about 40 percent in 2010, due in part to one company that solicited door to door, American Shingle, which received nearly 1,000 complaints nationwide after going bankrupt and not providing new roofs to angry customers.

>> Lottery and sweepstakes scams — The victim, often a senior citizen, receives a letter in the mail or phone call from someone pretending to be with Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Clearing House or a phony foreign lottery. The scammer claims that the victim has won millions but must first wire hundreds or even thousands of dollars back to the scammers to cover taxes or some other bogus fee. The victim wires the money but the prize never arrives.

>> Identity theft — Stolen identity through theft, emails, phone calls, text messages or corporate data breach.

>> Advance fee loan scams — Advance fee loan scams prey on consumers and business owners who are struggling financially. Victims are told they qualify for large loans but must pay upfront fees. The victim wires money but never receives the loan.

>> Overpayment scams — Overpayment scams typically target small-business owners, landlords or individuals with rooms to rent and sellers on classifieds or sites like Craigslist. The scammers overpay the amount for the services or products and then ask the victim to wire the extra amount back to them or to another fraudulent entity. Ultimately, though, the check is forged, and the victim is out the money wired back to the scammers.