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Protecting Yourself
Elaine Kolish of the Federal Trade Commission says that the struggling economy is making people more
vulnerable to scams. Trust your instincts. "If you feel something is a little fishy, check it out,"
Elaine says. She also suggests the following preventative measures.
Work-at-Home Red Flags
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Elaine says work-at-home offers can sound appealing, but be skeptical of a company that's overly eager to sign you on. |
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Money-back guarantees can often be scams. |
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You can usually tell if a company is legitimate by its references. Start by calling the Better Business Bureau (BBB) first to see if a company has had complaints. |
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If you find a clean record from the BBB, keep doing your research. Visit www.ftc.gov for dozens of suggestions and pamphlets on how to protect yourself. |
Job-Seeking Schemes
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Be skeptical of employment firms that charge upfront money. |
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When you get a cold call from an employment agency, question the motive. |
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Check with your state's Attorney General to see if the business is properly licensed. |
Online Auction Scams
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Escrow transactions are usually a safe way to protect buyers and sellers; however, scam artists use the anonymity of the Internet to their advantage and invent false companies. |
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Never take a seller's word about an escrow company. Research escrow companies carefully yourself and get references. |
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If the company claims to be government-endorsed, that's a lie. The government does not endorse escrow companies. |
 Talk about this show.
From the show Have You Been Scammed?
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What does it feel like to be scammed out of $5,000? People who've lived through it give heartfelt confessions and advice. |
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