No one is immune from scams. Savvy and sophisticated
people fall for con men and schemers every day, and too many of them are seniors.
There are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones. Keep this list on hand
to stay vigilant against fraud.
Checklist
1.
Be cautious of unsolicited visitors, e-mails and phone calls -- many, if not all,
are fraudulent.
2.
If it seems too good to be true, it is.
3.
Do not give out any information to a person, business or Web site that you have
not verified with a reputable source.
4.
Do not respond to offers that demand you act immediately or won't take "no" for
an answer.
5.
E-mail addresses or Web addresses that have a company name in the address are
not necessarily from that company. Go to the official Web site for contact information.
6.
Do not open e-mail attachments from unfamiliar sources.
7.
Keep your computer protected with anti-virus software, anti-spam and spyware protection.
8.
Watch out for online job ads that read like get-rich-quick schemes.
9.
Check the background of your investment professional to verify that they are licensed
and have had no disciplinary actions taken against them by securities regulators
or criminal complaints by going to the NASD
BrokerCheck Web site or check with your state
securities regulator.
10.
If you're planning to do business with a brokerage firm, find out if they and
their clearing firm are members of the Securities
Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
