Guide to Scam Protection

Quick Questions

Who would be so dumb to fall for this stuff?

It’s true, a sucker is born every minute, but the truth is more complex than that. Con artists succeed because they are excellent marketers who know what buttons to push to make you trust them. That’s what the “con” in “con artist” stands for – confidence. Sometimes they’ll use guilt, sometimes they’ll use intimidation, and sometimes they take advantage of their victims’ naiveté. This is why it’s important to stay informed, stay sceptical, and stand up for yourself.

Why aren’t the police doing anything about these conmen?

They do. Most police departments have a scam-busting or “bunco” department, but there are a thousands of scams being perpetrated every minute of every day. Scams are easy to pull off but often hard to prosecute; by the time police are on the case the conmen and their fly-by-night operations are usually long gone, and embarrassed victims often don’t want to come forward.

Besides, not all scams are technically illegal. There is a fine line between what’s a con and what’s just a raw deal.

But I saw it advertised on TV/newspaper/magazine!

Doesn’t matter. Most TV stations or paper presses don’t care or don’t have the resources to check whether an advertisement is a scam or not. Usually, as long as the ad isn’t obscene, and they get paid they will run it. They’re looking out for Number 1, and so should you.