Dennis Russell, Chief, Wintergreen Police

There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and others from fraud and scams.

If you believe you were a victim of a fraud or scam report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

1) Criminals and con artists use many scams to target unsuspecting people who have access to money. Consumer scams happen on the phone, through the mail or e-mail, or over the internet. They can occur in person, at home, or at a business.

2) Don’t share numbers or passwords for accounts, credit cards, or your Social Security Number.

3) Never pay upfront for a promised prize. It’s a scam if you are told that you must pay fees or taxes to receive a prize or other financial windfall.

4) After hearing a sales pitch, take time to compare prices. Ask for information in writing and read it carefully.

5) Too good to be true? Ask yourself why someone is trying so hard to give you a “great deal.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

6) Watch out for deals that are “only good today” and that pressure you to act quickly. Walk away from high-pressure sales tactics that don’t allow you time to read a contract or get legal advice before signing. Also, don’t fall for the sales pitch that says you need to pay immediately, for example by wiring the money or sending it by courier.

7) Keep an eye out for identity theft by reading your statements from credit card companies or banks and credit unions and checking your credit reports for suspicious activity.

8) Look closely for charges you did not make. Even a small charge can be a danger sign. Thieves sometimes will take a small amount from your checking account and then return to take much more if the small debit goes unnoticed.

9) Review your free credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus. If an identity thief is opening financial accounts in your name, these accounts may show up on your credit report (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

10) Look for inquiries from companies you’ve never contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and wrong amounts on your credit card accounts.

11) A charity scam is when a thief poses as a real charity or makes up the name of a charity that sounds real to get money from you. Be careful about any charity calling you asking for donations. And be wary if you get a call following up on a donation pledge that you don’t remember making – it could be a scam. What to do: If you are able to help financially, visit the website of the organization of your choice to make sure your money is going to the right place.