How a $2 scam can hit your bank account where it hurts

BEING RELEASED FROM THEHOSPITAL.HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARDSOMETHING THAT SOUNDED TOO GOODTO BE TRUE... ONLY TO REALIZE ITWAS A SCAM?AS 2NEWS PROBLEM SOLVER PETEKNUTSON TELSL US, TONS OF CROOKSPERSEVERE - POUNCING ON WOULD-BEVICTIMS - UNTIL THEY FIND ONE.IF ONLY SHE HAD RECALLEDTHOSE WORDS HE RFATHER HADINSTILLED IN HER ALL THOSE YEARSAGO, WHEN CARIJEAN WAS ONLY ACHILD.

WORDS MEANT TO BE A LIFELONG LESSON."I learned don )t be gullible,anything free is not free, mydaddy used to tell me that."RECENTLY, THOUGH, CARIJEANSAYS SHE WAS FOOLED, WHEN THISCARD ARRIVED IN HER MAIL BOX.FINAL NTIOCE IT SAYS, CALL NOWTO GET A FREE $100 VOUCHER TOBESPENT ANYWAY SHE WISHED."They were trying to sell memagazines and I said I don )twant any magazines, I just wantthe voucher."BUT THEY WOULD STILL SENDHER THAT VOUCHER, CARIJEAN SAYS,ALL SHE HAD TO WDOAS PAY $1.95PROCESSING FEE WITH A CHECKINGACCOUNT OR CREDIT CARD.A GOOD DEAL, CARIJEANTHOUGHT.ON DISABILITY, SHE SAYS EVERYDIME COUNTS, EVERY NICKEL, EVENEVERY PENNY.FOR FOOD, FOR TOILETRIES,ESPECIALLY FOR RENT."I pay lamost $600 a month, thenI get $700 a month, so thatdoesn )t leave me very much."THE $100 VOUCHER, THOUGH,NEVER ARRIVED.CARIJEAN SAYS EVERY TIME SHECALLED, THEY CHARGED HER AGAIN,AT LEA STFIVE TIMES, BUT STILL,NO VOUCHER."Every time I called, they askedfor my card number, theexpiration date and securitycode.

I would give it to themagainst my better judgement."EVENTUALLY, CARIJEAN FEAREDSHE COULD LOSE EVERYTHIN G,NOWTHAT SOMEONE HAD SOME HERFINANCIAL AND PERSONALINFORMATION."I )m worried they could take myrent, they could take my wholecheck."" they said you don )t need tocall anybody and laughed in myface."Experts say would be scammerssometimes charge a small amountto a victim )s credit card,testing the account, checking tosee if that charge goes through.If it does, they )ll hit theaccount with a much largercharge a little later.But Carijean contacted theProblem Solvers before thatcould happen.She closed that account, andopened a new one.Now, Carijean feels it )s herduty towa rn others, she says,her spiritual duty."I was reading my Bible, I wasreadingmy Bible, and I keptthis in my Bible, and somethingsaid call channel 2 ."AND CARIJEAN )S MESSAGE ISSIPLME, FREE IS NEVER FREE, NOMATTER WHAT A SUSPICIOUS OFFER,MAY PROMISE."Don )t do it, don )t do it, dondo it."WORDS OF WARNING A,S THOSEWORDS FROM HER FATHER, FROMDECADES ALONG AGO, ONCE AGAINECHO, LOUD AND CLEAR.

P2NOPS.AND WHILE A VICTI CMANDISPUTE CHARGES IF A CREDIT CARDIS INVOLVED, EXPERTS RECOMMENDTHE QUICK ACTION CIARJEAN TOOK,BY CLOSING THE ACCOUNT ANDOPENING A NEOW NE.AND DO THE SAME, EXPERTS SAY,IF A BANK ACCOUNT INCOMPROMISED, AS IT )S MOREDIFFICULT TO RECOVER MONEY, LOSTFROM A CHECKING OR SAVINGSACCONUT.AND WHILE A VICTIM CAN DISP