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Truth About Avoiding Scams, The

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Truth About Avoiding Scams, The

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Description

  • Copyright 2008
  • Edition: 1st
  • eBook (Watermarked)
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-713548-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-713548-6

This is the eBook version of the printed book. If the print book includes a CD-ROM, this content is not included within the eBook version.

"You should read this book and take Steve Weisman's advice. And from the money and assets he helps you protect, take a few dollars and buy a copy for a good friend."

--Alan Colmes, Syndicated radio talk show host and co-host of Hannity and Colmes on Fox News Channel

  

Scams are everywhere...now discover exactly how to protect yourself!

·        The truth about recognizing today’s newest scams--online and off

·        The truth about safeguarding your money, health, and reputation

·        The truth about phishing, vishing, pharming, slamming, and more

Scams have always been with us, and they always will be - except now, technology makes scammers' jobs even easier, enabling them to reach out from anywhere around the world, and take advantage of more people than ever before. No matter how smart you think you are, you can easily become a victim: in fact, scammers have discovered that educated, sophisticated individuals are among their best targets. The Truth About Avoiding Scams arms you with everything you need to protect yourself: real, up-to-the-minute knowledge, and the "internal sensors" you need to sniff out even the subtlest, most well-crafted scams. Consumer finance expert and nationally syndicated radio host Steve Weisman offers quick, bite-size, just-the-facts information about every type of fraud, from identity scams to computer-based fraud, travel and health scams to phony educational loans and scholarships. Weisman exposes the new epidemic of "affinity fraud," where "people just like you" target you based on your ethnicity, racial group, church, club, or fraternal organization. You'll find up-to-the-minute guidance on avoiding illegitimate online dating services; "cramming" and other phone frauds; tax and Social Security scams; employment, home repair, and investment scams; and a whole lot more.

Unlike some books on scams, this one's simple to read, simple to use, up to date, and complete: the only guide you need to keep yourself safe!

Sample Content

Table of Contents

Introduction  ix

Part I               The Truth About Identity Theft  1

Truth 1             Identity theft  1

Truth 2             Go phish  5

Truth 3             Vishing down on the pharm  9

Truth 4             Do Not Call Registry, Patriot Act scams  13

Truth 5             Protect yourself from identity theft  15

Part II              The Truth About Computer Scams  19

Truth 6             Trojan horse  19

Truth 7             PayPal, eBay  21

Truth 8             Second chances–eBay  23

Truth 9             Free adult entertainment  25

Truth 10           Two more for the road  27

Part III             The Truth About Classic Scams  29

Truth 11           Ponzi scheme  29

Truth 12           Chain letters  33

Truth 13           A couple of the basics  37

Truth 14           Nigerian scam  41

Truth 15           Who knew? A flurry of old champs  45

Truth 16           More reasons to be wary  49

Truth 17           And you thought you’d heard it all  53

Truth 18           Money lost, borrowed, or gambled  57

Truth 19           Lottery and contest scams  61

Part IV             The Truth About Getting Personal  65

Truth 20           Exercise scams  65

Truth 21           Weight loss scams  67

Truth 22           The CIA medical scam  71

Truth 23           Education scams  73

Truth 24           Romance scams  77

Truth 25           Rental care insurance  81

Truth 26           Personal information privacy  83

Part V              The Truth About Telephone Scams  87

Truth 27           Cramming  87

Truth 28           900 numbers  89

Truth 29           Phony caller ID  93

Truth 30           Area code 809  95

Part VI             The Truth About Tax Scams  97

Truth 31           Fear and loathing of the IRS  97

Truth 32           More tax scams  101

Truth 33           It just doesn’t stop  105

Part VII            The Truth About Government Assistance  109

Truth 34           Social Security   109

Truth 35           Medicare  113

Truth 36           Veteran scams  115

Part VIII           The Truth About Credit Card Scams  119

Truth 37           Credit cards  119

Truth 38           More credit card offers  123

Truth 39           Skimmers and ATM scams  127

Truth 40           Free credit report  133

Truth 41           Credit repair services  139

Truth 42           Credit counseling agencies  143

Truth 43           Credit card rate reduction scam  147

Truth 44           Advance fee credit cards  149

Truth 45           Credit card alarms in the night  153

Part IX            The Truth About Employment Scams  155

Truth 46           Work-at-home schemes  155

Truth 47           Easy money  159

Truth 48           More wrong turns  161

Truth 49           Cruise ship employment scam  165

Truth 50           Get a job online scams  167

Part X             The Truth About Home Scams  169

Truth 51           Home sweet scam  169

Truth 52           Variations on a theme  173

Part XI            The Truth About Investment Scams  177

Truth 53           Stock scams  177

Truth 54           More investment scams  181

Truth 55           Unusual investment opportunities  185

Truth 56           Fees in legitimate investments  189

Truth 57           Free financial seminars  195

Part XII           The Truth About Solutions  197

Truth 58           Some solutions  197

Truth 59           Keeping your computer secure  199

Truth 60           Wi-Fi  205

Truth 61           Due diligence  207

About the Author  210

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