Tips to Spot a Con Artist

Most people think they're too smart to fall for a scam. But con artists rob all kinds of people – from investment counselors and doctors to teenagers and senior citizens – of billions of dollars every year. Cons, scams, and frauds disproportionately victimize seniors with false promises of miracle cures, financial security, and luxury prizes.

One easy rule to remember ... if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You Can Protect Yourself!

• Never give out personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call.  It's illegal for telemarketers to ask for your credit card, Social Security number, or bank account number to verify a prize or gift.

• Beware of 900 numbers. Remember, if you call a 900 number to claim a "prize," you end up paying for the call. Make sure you understand all the charges before making the call.

• Take your time and shop around. Don't let an aggressive con artist pressure you into making a decision. Demand information in writing by mail. Get a second opinion. Ask your family, friends, and neighbors what they think about certain offers.

• Remember, you have the right, the ability, and the power to say no! If the caller on the other end of the phone makes you wary, be assertive and end the conversation. Cons know that the longer they keep you on the phone, the higher their chances of success. They often prey on the trusting, polite nature of many people or on their excitement over getting a supposed prize or bargain. By saying no and hanging up the phone, you can prevent a crime from taking place.

Be a Wise Consumer

• Beware of cheap home improvements or repair work that would otherwise be expensive. The con artist may just do part of the work, use shoddy or stolen materials and untrained workers, or simply take your deposit and never return. Never pay with cash. Never accept offers from drive-up workers who "just happen" to be in the neighborhood. If they're reliable, they'll come back after you check them out.

• Don't buy health products or treatments that include: a promise for a quick and dramatic cure, testimonials, imprecise and nonmedical language, appeals to emotion instead of reason, or a single product that cures many ills.

• Look closely at offers that come in the mail. Con artists often use official-looking forms and language and bold graphics to lure victims. If you receive items in the mail that you didn't order, you are under no obligation to pay for them. You are free to throw them out, return them, or keep them.

• Visit Fraud Watch on the Web at www.fraud.org for current fraud alerts.

Some Typical Cons Targeted Against Older People

Many cons choose to victimize older people. They devise complex offers that confuse their targets and eventually persuade them to take up these offers.

Don't let this happen to you...

• The phone rings and the caller tells you that you've won a new car! In order to claim the prize you need to mail a check to cover taxes and delivery of the car. Weeks later, the phone rings again. You learn that the original prize company has gone out of business. But the caller tells you not to worry because his/her company has purchased the assets of the defunct company. All you need to do is send another check to cover the cost of the legal transaction and for immediate delivery. The check gets mailed. The prize never arrives.

• A mail offer, newspaper, magazine or television ad catches your eye. It promises a quick cure for cancer, arthritis, memory loss, back pain, or other ailments. "It's an absolute miracle," testimony reads. "I feel a millions times better." You mail your check for a six-week supply of this miracle cure and you wind up with a jar of Vitamin C, placebos, or even worse, pills or tonics that have not been medically tested and could worsen your condition or react negatively with prescription medication you regularly take.

If Someone Rips You Off

• Report con games to the police, your city or state consumer protection office, district attorney's office, or a consumer advocacy group. Don't be embarrassed. Some very, very astute people have been taken in by these pros!

• Call the National Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7060, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.

• Reporting is vital. Very few frauds are reported, which leaves the con artists free to rob other people of their money-and their trust. Exposing them is important.

Con Artists – Their Tactics and Targets
For more information on con artists, their tactics and targets, we recommend taking the tour at the Fraud Victims Advocacy website.  There you will learn the profile of a con artist, what a con artist looks for in a victim, how they set up their victims, and...

17 Things a Con Artist Won't Tell You - a con artist will tell you everything and anything you want to hear - up to the point where you start asking pointed questions.