Ho, Ho, Hoax? - Airman Consumer - avoiding con artists - Brief Article

Airman, Dec, 2001 by Una Cuffy

Imagine carolers, parties, shoppers and candles. Trimming the tree, baking cookies and smiling faces. These are the images of the holiday season.

The holidays are a time to think of family, friends and having a good time. A time to give and receive and wait for Santa.

So, you'd never expect anyone to scam you, right? Wrong. The holidays are peak season for scam artists posing as "Good Samaritans."

Many of us think long and hard before we give. After all, it took a long time to earn that buck. We don't want someone trying to unscrupulously get their hands on our cash.

However, scammers are busy in crowded stores, on the streets and on the Internet looking for potential victims. So, people must always be aware of their surroundings--because they never know who's watching.

Americans have big hearts, and this holiday season they're focusing on the injured and those who lost family and friends during the September 11th terrorist attacks. They maybe perfect targets for the unscrupulous.

There have been numerous reports of frauds sending out calls for assistance for "emergency relief funds," and directing the recipients to contribute money to such reputable agencies as the Red Cross or other organizations with similar names.

Sounds good on the surface, however, scammers are telling people: "We can pick up your check for the relief fund within 30 minutes."

Is the organization legitimate? If you need to ask yourself this question, it's probably a scam.

"Scammers primarily look for goodhearted people. Their victims are the trustworthy," said Arlene Christilles, chief of civil law at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

She said many scam artists like to target the elderly because they know older folks are generous and would be embarrassed to report to authorities that they've been ripped off.

The scammers also go after military members because they think the troops are naive.

"If you're not familiar with the organization, the safest thing to do is throw the solicitation in the trash and send your contribution to a local charity you know and trust," said Aaron Valenzuela of the Texas attorney general's office consumer protection division.

He said people who want their contributions to do the most good, need to put as much thought into where they donate as they do in spending their money.

Many swindlers use names similar to those of known organizations. "The best advice is not to donate to any organization you don't know," he said.

There are scores of scams and schemes circulating during the holidays.

"We especially see scams increase in the Air Force community, when people are in a giving mood," Christilles said.

She said the annual Combined Federal Campaign prepares everyone for giving. Scammers prey on that "good will." The best advice from Christilles?

"Be aware. Be very cautious. Play it smart. And don't trust anyone," she said. "And be smart about releasing information."

One big scam is called social engineering. That's when a person is shopping or waiting in a doctor's office and someone wins their confidence through persuasive talk. The person feels comfortable and begins sharing information about them.

"These scammers are trained to win your trust so they can draw out important information about you, your job, your home and your family," she said.

And be very cautious on the Internet, Christilles said.

"It can give you a false sense of security," she said. "Today, we go for the convenience rather than the security."

So be careful when you see a smiling "Santa." He could be reaching for your pocket.

RELATED ARTICLE: Busting the scammers

There are ways to protect yourself from scammers. Most are common sense.

But if that tends to leave you during the holidays -- as you get into the spirit of the season -- here are some tips that may help keep you from getting ripped off, said Aaron Valenzuela of the consumer protection division of the Texas attorney general's office.

* When making a purchase, refuse requests for personal information. Your address and telephone number, for instance, are not a condition of purchase with a credit card.

* If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Report these incidents to the base legal office, office of special investigations or call your attorney general's office.

* Never provide your account number over the phone, if you have not initiated the call. It can be used to make a new card or unauthorized purchases on your account. Send a check made out to the full official name of the organization.

* Telemarketers' offering cheap vacations or merchandise awards and asking for credit card numbers are among the most common telephone scammers. Don't let merchants record your credit card number on a check, receipt or other document, unless you expect to be charged.

* Don't send money to an organization that has a post office box address unless you know for a fact it is legitimate.

* If you are uncertain about the charity, check with the state's charity registration office, usually the consumer protection division of the state attorney general's office, or the Better Business Bureau.