Chapter 17 Frauds, Scams & Rip-Offs MONEY FOR NOTHING - Rip-Offs, Cons and Swindles, by M. Allen Henderson A silver tongue, a goldbricker's heart and the brass to carry a scam through to the end are qualities found in every successful con man. And with the telephone, computer, photocopying equipment, TV and radio to advance his schemes, the professional swindler can thrive today as never before. If you haven't been a victim yet, it's only a matter of time -- unless you know what to look out for! Besieged as we are by the rip-off artist, how can we hope to avoid his so- called deals? This book tells you how. By reading the stories in this book -- some shocking, some amusing -- find out the COMMON THREADS that run through every con game. Taken from the news media, these cons -- some so low-down that it's hard to believe anyone could have the heart, or lack of it, to pull them off - have happened to someone. Now you can see to it that they don't happen to you. 5.5 X 8.5, hardcover, 200 pp, $17 (MONEY)(594) FLIMFLAM MAN - How Con Games Work, by M. Allen Henderson There's a sucker born every minute - or so you've heard. But showman P.T. Barnum's cynical appraisal of man's gullibility couldn't possibly apply to you. Or could it? Learn how to spot the con man and his tricks before he can relieve you of your cash! Three-car monte, handkerchief switch, obituary hustle and door- to-door home-repair scams have been around for ages, and this book explores them in detail, as well as spiritual bunco, mail-order sex and beauty- enhancers, electrical gadgets, investment scams and more. 5.5 X 8.5", glossary, bibliography, index, 256 pp, $17.95 (FLIM.S)(519) FREE STUFF, How Others Get Free Money, Booze, Gasoline, and Everything! By John Green. Do you want to find out how other people are soliciting, scrounging or otherwise scamming everything from cars and clothes to medical care and money FOR FREE? If you do, get this book and you'll discover the many ways John Green and other clever con artists skate through life with a minimum of expense and a maximum of satisfaction knowing they don't part with their hard-earned cash unnecessarily! You can use these schemes - some simple, some sophisticated - to score free transportation, movie tickets, electricity, haircuts, postage, food, Xrays, insurance and much, much more. Many of the techniques are perfectly legal, some are not, and several are "borderline", so this book is for information purposes only; for readers to learn of the scams perpetrated so they aren't sucked in and contribute to a freeloader's lifestyle. 5.5 X 8.5, softcover, 104 pp, $14 (STUFF)(1019) CHECK FRAUD INVESTIGATION, by Burt Rapp Passing a bad check may seem small-time in the world of crime, but for some it's a lucrative business. These nonviolent tricksters make a killing swindling banks and retailers. Police writer Burt Rapp takes you inside the world of the serial swindler and shows you every scam in the book, from bouncing a bad check at the corner store to big-time embezzlement, as well as dozens of ruses used to get people to accept bogus checks. He also shows how money orders, warrants, drafts, gift certificates and even CDs are vulnerable to fraud. This book will aid police in conducting fraud investigations, help bankers beef up their defenses and show merchants how to recognize the warning signs. 5.5 X 8.5, illust., 176 pp, $17 (CK)(979) CREDIT CARD FRAUD, By Burt Rapp Credit card fraud is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States because cards are easy to steal and use. Did you know that someone can drain your bank account using your cash machine (ATM) card WITHOUT YOUR SECRET CODE? Or that clever criminals can get a full month's use from a stolen credit card before arousing suspicion? This practical manual from Burt Rapp is for policemen, merchants, bankers and credit card holders, all of whom have a vested interest in preventing or detecting credit card fraud. It reveals all the scams, from forged bank cards to telemarketing rip-offs, and shows you how NOT to become a victim. 5.5 X 8.5", 136 pp, $13.95 (CARD)(957) ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER SYSTEMS FRAUD It can happen to you - your entire bank account drained by the latest nonviolent criminal to hit the streets. That faceless person behind you at the Automatic Teller Machine could actually be seeking clues to gain access to YOUR money. Or that pleasant bank employee could be hatching a computer- ized plot to transfer thousands of your dollars to his account for a quick withdrawal and a quicker escape out of town. Even if you're insured against such high-tech theft, it's a major hassle trying to straighten out the resulting mess with the bank. This manual is the first in-depth look at this growing crime wave. The nature and extent of electronic banking fraud is examined, including scores of actual incidents involving lost or stolen ATM cards and wire transfer fraud initiated by sharp financial swindlers. Learn the facts BEFORE your checks start bouncing! 8.5 X 11", 128 pp, $15 (FUND)(787) F9 for Next Chapter