It's not always easy to spot the con artist. They're smart, extremely persuasive, and aggressive. They invade our homes through the telephone, mail, advertisements in magazines and newspapers, and through your front door. Often we unwittingly choose to become a victim by calling a 900 number in response to a postcard or television ad, hand over money to a stranger, or volunteer a credit or phone card number.
Most people believe that they are too smart to fall for a scam.
According to a Louis Harris Survey conducted for the National Consumers League, fraudulent telemarketers have approached nine of ten Americans. Con artists rob all kinds of people, from investment counselors and doctors to teenagers and the elderly. The Bank Examiner Someone posing as a bank official, Internal Revenue Service agent, or other law enforcement officer, asks for your help, either in person or by phone, to catch a dishonest teller. You are asked to withdraw money from your account and turn it over them so the serial number can be checked or the money marked. You give the 'officer' your money, and you never see them, or your money, again.