Protect yourself or your loved ones from scamsNo 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.Checklist1. 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). View worksheet archive<< previous | next >>
Protect yourself or your loved ones from scams