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The
Melbourne Police Department offers the following recommendations to
assist citizens against scams designed to steal your money.
Protect
yourself – don’t give your credit card number to an unsolicited
telemarketer and check out any deal before parting with your
hard-earned money.
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Ask Questions |
| Where did you get my
name? |
| Can you send me written
materials to back up your claims? |
| Explain all the risks
involved in this investment. |
| Would you be willing to
explain your proposal to my attorney, accountant or banker? |
| What governmental agency
supervises your activity? |
| How long has your
company been in business? |
| How much of my money
will go for fees and commissions? |
| Where will my money be
held, exactly? |
| What type of written
statements do your provide, and how often will I receive them? |
| Who are the principals
of your firm? Can you provide references for them? |
Swindlers may lie while answering these questions, but most likely
they’ll simply hang up in disgust because you are not an easy
target.
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Don't Get
Taken |
| Don’t let
"greed" overcome common sense. |
| If it sounds too good to
be true, it probably is. |
| Get a second opinion. |
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Never reveal your
"vital numbers" – credit card, phone card, Social
Security, bank account or personal identification numbers (PIN)
– to verify a contest prize, to become eligible for a low-cost vacation or
for any other fabulous
offers. |
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Be Wary |
| High-pressure sales. |
| Demands for cash only. |
| Need for quick
decisions. |
| Secret deals. |
| No-risk, high-yield
investments. |
| Delayed delivery. |
| Dialing telephone
numbers that will result in charges to your phone bill.
Remember that 800 numbers are free;
900 numbers are not. |
If you
feel you have been the victim of a scam or have additional questions,
please contact the Police Department at 409-2200 for more information.
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Non-emergency
Incident Reporting |
