POPULAR CON GAMES AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM

The object of any con game is to cause you to part with your
money or other thing of value. Most con games are initiated
by people who approach you on the street or call on you at
your home. Be suspicious of ANY plan, idea, scheme, business
deal or whatever that requires you to part with your money on
short notice.

THE PIGEON DROP

Cons like the "pigeon drop" are very common. In this scam
the victim is approached by persons claiming to have found a
large sum of money. The suspects tell the victim they would
like to share the money with the victim,  but ask the  victim
to put up some of his own money as a gesture of good faith.
Packages, bags, or whatever are switched and the victim ends
up with a wad of paper or the like and the suspects are no
where to be found.

ROCKS IN THE BOX

In the "rocks in the box" scam, the victim is approached by a
suspect who offers to sell him a new TV or VCR or similar
item at a very low price. Once the victim parts with his
money he finds himself stuck with a box containing bricks or
other junk used to simulate the weight of the claimed
contents of the box.

BANK EXAMINER

The "bank examiner" con is commonly practiced on older
females. In this scam the victim is contacted, usually by
phone, by a person claiming to be an officer of the bank at
which she has an account. The caller claims that due to
computer malfunction or other problem, the bank needs to
verify certain information. During the conversation, the
caller tries to obtain needed information about the victim's
account balance, recent account activity, etc. The caller
will also try to determine if the victim lives alone, etc.
If the phoney bank officer gets the needed information he
will thank the victim, and tell her he will call her back if
there are any problems.
         
After a short time the phoney bank officer will call the
victim again and tell her that the problem has been caused by
a bank employee that they suspect of stealing from customer's
accounts, including the victim's. The victim is asked if she
would assist the bank in catching the dishonest employee.
The victim, wanting to help nab the crook, often agrees. She
is then given the "plan" by the phoney bank officer. He
tells the victim  that a "dummy" account has been set up in
her name for this event.  
         
She is to go to the bank and to the suspected dishonest
employee and withdraw $3000, the amount stolen from her
account. The phoney bank officer tells the victim that  the
dishonest employee, knowing that the withdrawal will cause
the victim's account to be overdrawn, will have to steal the
money from yet another account to make up the difference.
The phoney bank officer tells the victim that the dishonest
employee's actions will be monitored on closed-circuit TV,
and this is how he/she will be caught. The victim is assured
that her account is fully insured and she will suffer no loss
due to the employee's dishonesty. The victim follows through
with the plan and withdraws the agreed amount.   
         
The victim then meets the phoney bank official at a
pre-determined location. The phoney bank official then takes
the money from the victim, telling her that it actually came
from the "dummy" account and not her account, and that it is
needed as evidence. The victim is given a receipt for the
money and of course neither the money or the bank officer is
ever seen again!

BAIL BOND SCAM

The victim is contacted by phone by a person claiming to be a
friend of a relative of the victim. The victim is told that
the relative has been arrested for an outstanding warrant or
some other minor charge, and needs money to get out of jail.
The "friend" asks the victim for the bail money. If the
victim agrees, the caller will arrange for himself or another
person to pick up the money.

PHONEY C.O.D. SCAM

The suspect will scout a neighborhood to find a suitable
unoccupied home. He will check a city directory publication
to determine the name of the homeowner. He will put the name
on a phoney shipping label and attach that to a box
containing rocks or similar type debris. He will then return
dressed in an "express delivery" type of uniform. He will
pretend to knock or ring the doorbell at the unoccupied
house. Getting no answer, he will then go to a next-door or
nearby neighbor and ask them to accept the  package and pay
the C.O.D.  fee.

HOME IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

The suspects drive to the victim's house in a contractor type
vehicle and dressed in workman's clothing. They tell the
victim they have just finished a large roofing  job  (or
driveway  resurfacing, etc.) and have some materials left
over. They tell the victim they will use the left-over
material to repair the victim's roof, driveway, or whatever,
at a large discount. If the victim agrees, the suspects will
do a quick, shoddy, job with cheap  material. These con
artists  usually  travel  from town to town perpetrating this
scam, staying away from their home town where they would
surely be caught in a short time.