Be alert and avoid being fooled by scammers

Scams are on the rise, police say.  They are becoming more brazen, clever and conniving. So report would-be victims.

Scammers now use high-tech equipment and sophisticated plans to lure in the elderly and the gullible.

They may start by giving you information about you and your account to win your trust.  Don’t go for it. It is hard to imagine the sophisticated devices available to harvest your personal information.  Don’t believe them.

So, without divulging details of their scams, we present ways to avoid being duped by scam artists.

Never give out your personal information over the phone, even if the caller says he is from your bank or the police department.  Those organizations do not call citizens, asking for their personal information.

Hang up

If a stranger calls you to discuss your accounts, just hang up, say bankers.  If it is the bank, they will not be insulted. In fact, they urge customers to hang up as the first defense against scammers.

Don’t listen to their smooth words.  The more you listen, the more likely you will believe them and get suckered.

Never take money out of your bank account and give it to anyone pretending to be calling from your bank, no matter what they tell you.  It’s a scam.

Bankers do not call customers and ask for cash for any reason.  Just hang up.

Victims don’t want to be identified, even if they are not scammed.  Authorities and others are inclined to blame victims.

How could you have done that? Is a familiar refrain. No one wants to hear that, even if you did not fall for the scam.

Call or visit your bank.  Talk to a familiar banker.  If the matter involves a credit card or debit card and it is not possible to go to your bank, call the 800 number on the back of your card and tell them what’s going on.

If no one has attempted to scam you yet, don’t worry.  You could be next.  Don’t be ashamed of a failed attempt.  It can happen to anyone, and it often does.

Be alert, have a plan and stick to it.  Don’t give out your personal information over the phone to anyone.  Call or visit your bank promptly. Stay safe.