Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
Teen Etiquette
Always Be Or
Your Guard
AtHonne
By Kite Turmoil


You are never too young to
learn how to be on guard at
home. Why? To protect you
and your family from the "gyp-
experts" The "bunko game"
goes on all over. It's no fun to
be fooled into wanting to give
away" your money.
So YOU are alert to spot. outwit
any ICON man" or "phony,"
when you are in charge at home.
That's proof you are growing up.
able to handle money. response
bility.
On guard at your front door.
If parents are away: Il
/. Be wary Of the "Smarties"
who might appear in the guise
Of:
1.-The talent scout" He turns
I'D in person, from nowhere"
far as you know. to offer screen
tests, glamour Jobs for movies,
radio, stage, TV. You wonder
how he knew that is your secret
ambition. You have had no
special training or local recogni-
ton. Who recommended you?
Why should he seek you? You
ask. That's his secret!
Time for you to turn scout"
Say you'd write, phone or wire
the studio he says he represents.
To confirm his offer, toss in a
question about his company's
rating with your Chamber OF !
Commerce, the Better Business
Bureau.
Don't be carried away with
high-sounding name or address.
Firm names can be fictitious.
It's easy to rent the post office
box that sounds like an impor-
tant address. Make no invest
ment until sure he's a real
talent scout for a trustworthy
organization. That you can
check with police, locally or
wherever he says he's from.
THE COD. deliveryman."
He comes to your door after
parents leave (maybe he watched
them go) to deliver a package
he claims they ordered. Small
cost, probably, 50 or So. He
can't bear to miss the delivery.
If you hold back, he brings on
the tear jerkers. The sick baby.
The dying wife. It gets you. You
dig down, you pay. you suffer.
He is gone like the wind. What's
In the package? Nothing. prob
ably, except old newspaper wads
for weight, or small-w orth
stuff" nobody would order at
that price! It's all yours. You
paid for it!
How can you outsmart the
GOD. slicker? Pay for nothing.
unless so instructed, ahead, by
your family. If they are away,
say you must confirm the order.
That you can do. by phoning the
store or delivery company he
claims to represent. If you don't
see a messenger in uniform. a
standard truck that carries its
own I'D for an established firm.
be cagey!
What if you get something by
mail, not ordered, you don't
want? Return it!
THE collector" He's the do
gooder" who asks you to con-
tribute to charity or welfare
cause. He tugs the heart. the
purse strings. Ask for an iden-
tification card. Give it the long
look. This could be a "joker."
too. Say you'd like to phone the
church. agency for whom he's
collecting. Ask if he has au-
thority to make the rounds from
your towns social service bureau.
Check where to call while he
waits to collect. If he vaniShes
while you are on the phone.
good radiance you hope!
To fool the sharpe" in what
ever form he appears, here are
some more tips from public in
formation officers, "bunko squad"
men for the Los Angeles Police:
Deal with the stranger outside
your door. Don't let one who
says he wants to check a gas
or water leak roam around with
out proof he is a s7rviceman.
Dodge overly personal ques-
tions about family habits and
whereabouts.
Sign nothing, part with no
money ur'il sure you know who {
you are dealing with and why!
Whenever in doubt, say you
want time to think about it,
discuss with family.
Suspect the glib flattery that
hints "bunko" is at work. Ex-
amples: You have been chosen"
"You are the one selected for
this honor" Sounds wonderful!
But if you can't imagine why
this should happen to you. find
out, watch out.
Be on guard but don't dream
up heavy drama unfair to the
honest salesman, the community
worker. They want you to be
sure beyond doubt all's well.
Don't play cop, robber or
detective" Sergt. Ohio Woods
sums up. Whenever you want
help, advice. call your closest
police station. Give adequate
information soon enough for us
to do something fast to protect
V0IIr m0nnv aud vOiY -