ON GUARD-Fraud Spotter - part 1

ON GUARD -Spotting Fraud (Part 1)
By Laura Quarantiello
® Tiare Publications Group
356 words

So you think you're too smart to get taken by a con artist? Think again, b=
ecause many con artists are so good at what they do they
can take smart people to the cleaners just as easily and often as anyone el=
se. Cons and frauds come in every size, shape and color
imaginable. But there are several basic "tried and true" cons, which are st=
ill being perpetrated that everyone should be aware of.
Here's one of them:

THE BANK EXAMINER -

Someone calls and identifies himself as a bank official. If the caller doe=
sn't know where your bank is he will name one and wait for
you to correct him. He will then tell you that there is some problem and th=
at another bank official will be calling you shortly. When the
other "official" does call he informs you that one of their tellers is beli=
eved to be embezzling from the bank and they'd like your help in
gathering proof. You are then asked to go to the bank, withdraw a certain a=
mount of money, and meet someone - either back at your
home or in the bank's parking lot. The person you meet may show you authent=
ic looking identification from a federal agency or from
the bank itself. You're asked to turn your money over to him.

He assures you he'll keep the money just long enough to record the serial n=
umbers and treat the bills with a unique detection
chemical that will identify it later. You are assured that the money will b=
e returned to you by a specific time so you can redeposit it.
Surprise! You never see those people - or your money - again!

Understand that no bank official would ever call you to ask for your bank b=
alance or any other information about your account. If they
are from the bank they already have access to that information so there's n=
ever a need to confirm it with you. Furthermore,
professional undercover officers undertake "stings" on embezzlers; they do =
not involve ordinary citizens in their work.

So if you ever find yourself being asked for information about your bank ac=
count, or someone tries to involve you in taking an action
such as the one discussed here, ask for the name and phone number of the pe=
rson calling. Then contact your bank immediately and
give them as much information about the incident as you can.

No matter how smooth or unusual a con is, there will always be something ab=
out it that won't feel right to you. Trust your instincts; if
things seem a little "off," - even if you can't say why - avoid it - and re=
port it.

(End)

Laura Quarantiello is the author of the book "On Guard - How You Can Win Yo=
ur War Against the Bad Guys" - an "informational
shield" that will help keep you and your family safe from the creeps and cr=
azies out there. For more information please visit:
http://www.tiare.com/onguard.htm