No one is immune from falling for a scam.  They can happen to any one of any age and at any stage in their life.  To help protect you from becoming a victim of a scam there are some things that you need to remember.  The best thing that you can do is remember that if sounds too good to be true it probably is and it is most likely a scam.

Protect Yourself

There are two identity theft protection ways that you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of a scam.  One of the most important things that you can do is making sure that you read the fine print not only at the bottom of the paper but anywhere that there appears to be small fine print.  In addition to the small print you should read the contract or agreement entirely before you sign it.  Scammers may use small print, sophisticated language, or asterisks to either confuse or hide the true meaning of what you are signing your name to.

You should also make sure that you guard all your personal information.  Make sure that you verify their identity if anyone asks for your personal information.  Make sure that you ask for their name, the name of their organization, the address, and the phone number.  You need to make sure that you verify this information through an outside source such as the telephone directory or their website.
If you Should Become a Victim

If you should become a victim of identity theft in spite of doing everything that you could to avoid being taken in by a scammer, demand a refund if you paid in any money.  If they give you an evasive response or refuse to give you a refund, tell them that you are planning on notifying the law enforcement officials and follow through with it if you do not get a refund.

Make sure that you document everything so you will have records in case this turns out to be a scam and you have to take some type of legal action against the company or organization.  Make sure that you track all the phone calls, do your best to record all the costs involving the time you had to spend recovering your money, and keep copies of all the paperwork.

If the company will not refund your money there are several agencies that may be able to help you get your money back.  If you suspect that you have become a victim of consumer fraud make sure that you contact the Consumer Hotline of the Attorney General’s Office. You can also contact your local Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, or the United States Postal Inspection Service.

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