| Don't get hooked by these 9 scams |
|
|
|
In fact, experts warn that you should never do business
with a stranger who knocks on your door. And, although states differ
in their regulations and standards, reputable home inspectors don't
solicit business this way. You can check out home inspectors through
their professional organizations. The ASHI Web site at www.ashi.org
is a good place to start.
9. Clean checks
If you pay your bills using paper checks, don't stick them in your
personal mailbox and raise the proverbial "red flag" for
pickup from a postal worker. It's far more likely to attract the
wrong person.
Instead, mail your bills at the post office. Even
better -- pay bills electronically or by bank draft.
Check washers, who often work in gangs, target the
homes of people who leave mail in their boxes. In the past, they've
stolen envelopes containing checks, removed the ink from the "payee"
and "amount" portions, upped the amount and cashed the
forged checks. Since they preserve the original signature, the check
looks valid to the bank.
Lynne Variano, a board-certified forensic document
examiner and expert, says there's a new twist to this con. Instead
of reusing the washed check, criminals obtain the account and routing
numbers from the victim's checking account and print phony checks,
using print stock that can be purchased at any office supply store.
Variano says that in addition to paying bills online,
there are ways to help keep your account secure. "Know who
you are giving your checks to," she says, "and treat checks
like you do credit cards."
Many victims don't realize they've been ripped off
until they receive either a bank statement or a past-due notice.
It only takes one bad decision to leave your wallet
flatter than a flounder. Before you click on a link, sign a contract
or accept any offers, be suspicious, ask for references and never
agree to anything without thinking it over. Make it a nonnegotiable
rule to discuss pending financial moves with someone you trust --
your lawyer, banker or even a savvy friend or relative.
Develop a protective layer of skepticism to make yourself
a tougher target for cons.
|
