"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." "Hindsight is 20/20"
These are familiar phrases that prove to be true over and over.
Here are some resources that can help you avoid being "scammed".
Remember, "if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is".
Before doing business with any company, especially if you are unsure
of them,call the Better Business Bureau
of South Texas to see if that company has ever been reported in the
past for fraudulent activity.
These are familiar phrases that prove to be true over and over.
Here are some resources that can help you avoid being "scammed".
Remember, "if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is".
Before doing business with any company, especially if you are unsure
of them,call the Better Business Bureau
of South Texas to see if that company has ever been reported in the
past for fraudulent activity.
| Better Business Bureau South Texas Regional Office 2017 W. Expressway 83, Unit 4 Weslaco, TX 78596 (956) 968-3678 |
| San Antonio Police Department SCAM PREVENTION ALERTS Consumer Fraud Reporting free online service to warn consumers about specific types of financial and other scams |
Be aware of this one! - you start the engine and shift into reverse, and look in the rear-view mirror when you
notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the window blocking your view. So, you shift into park, unlock your
doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is). When you reach the back of your car, the
carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed
off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your
home address, your money & your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!
Some other Common Scams:
Telemarketing
The Scam:
You've won something. Maybe money. Or they've got a terrific deal for you. All you have to do to get it is send
some of your own money. And quickly. They may ask you to read your credit card number over the phone.
The Reality:
There's no prize or deal. They want you to send money so they can keep it.
The Solution:
1) HANG UP
2) Tell them you will first have to discuss it with your son who works for the FBI.
Home Repair
The Scam:
They just happened to be in the neighborhood. They happen to have a special deal going just for the elderly. Or
maybe they're offering free inspections. At some point, they will tell you that something is seriously wrong with
something in your house. So serious that it's an emergency. So serious that they need you to give them a check
or a credit card right away to fix it.
The Reality:
They're just trying to frighten you into taking action -- giving them money -- without your having time to think about
it. There's nothing wrong with your house. There's no emergency.
The Solution:
1) TAKE YOUR TIME
2) If you really think there's something wrong, get at least three other bids on the work.
Living Trusts
The Scam:
A telephone call from out of the blue invites you to a seminar to get help to arrange your financial affairs or your
estate. The seminar organizers also have a few good investments for you. You might even win a prize or a trip.
The Reality:
They're not interested in helping with your estate. They want you to tell them all about your confidential financial
affairs so they can steal your money, or make huge commissions on bad investments.
The Solution:
1) DON'T ATTEND THESE SEMINARS
notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the window blocking your view. So, you shift into park, unlock your
doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is). When you reach the back of your car, the
carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed
off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your
home address, your money & your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!
Some other Common Scams:
Telemarketing
The Scam:
You've won something. Maybe money. Or they've got a terrific deal for you. All you have to do to get it is send
some of your own money. And quickly. They may ask you to read your credit card number over the phone.
The Reality:
There's no prize or deal. They want you to send money so they can keep it.
The Solution:
1) HANG UP
2) Tell them you will first have to discuss it with your son who works for the FBI.
Home Repair
The Scam:
They just happened to be in the neighborhood. They happen to have a special deal going just for the elderly. Or
maybe they're offering free inspections. At some point, they will tell you that something is seriously wrong with
something in your house. So serious that it's an emergency. So serious that they need you to give them a check
or a credit card right away to fix it.
The Reality:
They're just trying to frighten you into taking action -- giving them money -- without your having time to think about
it. There's nothing wrong with your house. There's no emergency.
The Solution:
1) TAKE YOUR TIME
2) If you really think there's something wrong, get at least three other bids on the work.
Living Trusts
The Scam:
A telephone call from out of the blue invites you to a seminar to get help to arrange your financial affairs or your
estate. The seminar organizers also have a few good investments for you. You might even win a prize or a trip.
The Reality:
They're not interested in helping with your estate. They want you to tell them all about your confidential financial
affairs so they can steal your money, or make huge commissions on bad investments.
The Solution:
1) DON'T ATTEND THESE SEMINARS
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