Title
The con : how scams work, why you're vulnerable, and how to protect yourself / James Munton and Jelita McLeod.
ISBN
9781442207318 (alk. paper)
1442207310 (alk. paper)
Publication Details
Lanham, [Md.] : Rowman & Littlefield, c2011.
Language
English
Description
vii, 211 p. ; 24 cm.
Call Number
HV6691 .M86 2011
Dewey Decimal Classification
362.88
Summary
"No one thinks it can happen to them, but Americans are 40 times more likely to be defrauded than to have their cars stolen or their homes burgled. Con artists ruin people financially and emotionally, leaving in their wake a trail of destruction, broken hearts, and deflated dreams. The first step to combating fraud is to understand it. What do scams look like? Why are they effective? The next step is to take action. How can we protect ourselves and our families? The Con: How Scams Work, Why You're Vulnerable, and How to Protect Yourself informs and engages with accessible stories of ordinary people from all walks of life thrown into unexpected and disorienting circumstances. The book goes behind the scenes of real-world cons to examine the logistics and psychology that enable scams to succeed. The goal is to help people understand and recognize deception, and in the same way that they avoid other potentially dangerous situations, take a detour. Once readers gain a clear idea of what scams look and sound like and learned simple strategies to reduce personal risk, protecting themselves will be just as instinctive as putting on a seat belt"--Provided by publisher.
Note
Includes index.
Scams 101 : admitting there's a problem
Know the enemy : elements of a con
The weakest link : why scams work
Mayhem in the mail : avoiding postal pitfalls
Up close and personal : danger on your doorstep
Dialing for dollars : fending off phone fraud
Fortifying the firewall : evading electronic scams
Out and about : sidestepping street swindles
Don't mix business with pleasure : affinity fraud and investment scams
It ain't me : identity theft
Recovering from identity theft.
