To: Jeffrey S. Mitchell who wrote (20030 ) 2/25/1999 1:55:00 AM From: BORIS BADENUFF Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 26163
conman reveals the tricks they use to part you from your money Make scam artists scram before they dash off with your dollars. There are simple ways to avoid getting rooked by a crook, says reformed con artist Brett Champion, author of "America's Guide to Fraud Prevention." During his 10-plus years as a swindler, Champion defrauded millions of hard-earned dollars from honest citizens and knows just how the flim-flam artists work . . . and how to derail them. "Several years ago I was arrested by the FBI for selling shares in phony oil wells and was sentenced to four years in a federal prison," he told The ENQUIRER. "I decided to turn my life around and help others avoid being ripped off by people like me." Here's what you should do: Hang up on phone solicitors "Telemarketing is a big scam," cautioned the expert." The rule of thumb is whenever anyone calls you on the phone and tries to sell you anything, tell them, 'I don't have any money' and hang up. "Once they hear you don't have any money, you're off their list and they move on to their next potential victim. "Even if they tell you, 'Congratulations, you've won our grand drawing in our giveaway contest,' . . . or a brand-new car . . . or a credit card with a $50,000 credit limit, hang up immediately. "You didn't win anything. And if you fall for their line, the next thing they will tell you is that all you need do to collect is send them a few hundred dollars for the processing fee. Once you send the money it's lost forever." Beware of phony prize offers You could receive a "congratulations" announcement through the mail announcing you may have won a big prize. But in order to redeem a prize, you are asked to call the 900 number printed on the announcement to find out what you've won. "When you call the number it's no surprise that you get put on hold and are billed $5.00 a minute until someone later comes on to tell you that you've won nothing!" Never give out personal information over the phone "Another big crime is people who say they're from your bank or credit card company asking you for personal information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, bank account number or credit card number. "They might tell you they think someone is using your card or bank account and they need to go over some personal information with you in order to verify the fraud and protect your interests. "If you make the mistake of giving out this information over the phone, they can then have your credit cards sent to them and they can start using them to their benefit. "They can even take over your identity, run up all sorts of bills in your good name and totally destroy your life. "When you give out personal information over the phone you're only asking for trouble." Don't get suckered by slick moneylenders who use mail order and come-on ads "Watch out for people promising you a loan when you have bad credit or no credit. First they will tell you, 'Congratulations, you've been approved for a loan!' Then in the next breath they will ask you for a $500 processing fee so that they can send you your check. "If you send them the processing fee you will never see your check." Only deal with well-established reputable institutions when borrowing money. -- PATRICIA TOWLE