Be wary of the “You’ve just won $25,000 (or a boat, car or something else valuable). If you are asked to pay anything before you receive your prize, it is probably a scam. Often these companies claim the money is to cover shipping, taxes, customs, etc. Legitimate companies rarely require any fees up front.

Claims of inexpensive travel are easy to believe but often the “two weeks in Hawaii for $350.00” isn’t what it claims. Before falling into the trap of an apparent travel bargain, check out all travel offers with a reputable travel agent. If they want you to commit immediately, the odds are good it is a scam.

If you often donate money or items to a good cause, make sure the calls aren’t from crooks. In many cases, these scam artists claim to be collecting on behalf of police or fire departments. It is important to donate to charity, but take the necessary steps to make sure the charity is legitimate.

You’ve seen the ads in the papers for earning thousands of dollars working from home. Most ads that claim you can earn a significant income working at home can rarely be supported. Very often there is more involved than meets the eye. Examine these claims carefully before sending any money.

Correct information cannot be removed from your credit report for any amount of money. Anyone that claims they can work this magic is not telling the truth. Accurate information can be reported for five to ten years. If your report has an error, you can have it corrected at not cost through the credit-reporting agency. There are also nonprofit organizations that can help rebuild your credit at no cost.

Scam artists advertise fake charities using similar names to well known legitimate charities to obtain your donations. A good example is someone using the name of National Cancer Society to be mistaken with the Canadian Cancer Society in order to obtain your donation.