Scams
If you are offered an opportunity, especially one that seems too good to be true:
- Be aware that once you start going along with a con artist, it’s very difficult to keep from being scammed
- Beware of con artists (confidence games) (e.g., driveway repair, reps from utility company, water pressure problems, requests for change for a large domination bill, requests to borrow an article, well dressed, fix roof, for next to nothing using leftover materials from another job, patch leaky boiler, ?
- Be aware that most con artists:
- Work in teams (usually in pairs)
- Often use any excuse to get into your home
- Try to intimidate you
- Are able to gain your confidence
- Try to fast talk you into agreeing
- Talk you into a corner
- Try to keep you from thinking
- Can be very charming and very convincing
- Seem like nice guys
- Are talkative
- Exploit loneliness, disabilities, charities, infirmities, your willingness to help, and/or your desire to get something for nothing
- Know how to exploit your weaknesses
- Can make even the craziest proposition sound plausible
- Live off of their wit and their looks
- Are usually well-dressed
- Are everywhere
- Prey on elderly
- Be very wary of anyone who:
- Claims to be a bank examiner
- Claims to have won a lottery
- Asks you to withdraw money from your bank account
- Be very wary whenever something unusual happens, e.g., something which distracts you
If you believe you are the target of a scam:
- Contact the police they may be able to confirm that you’re being targeted by a scam and you may be helping to prevent others from losing money to criminals
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