Book
Scam me if you can : simple strategies to outsmart today's rip-off artists
Publication Information
[New York] : Portfolio/Penguin, [2019]
Physical Description
xiii, 336 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Summary
"Are you at risk of being scammed? Former con artist and bestselling author of Catch Me If You Can Frank Abagnale shows you how to stop scammers in their tracks. Maybe you're wondering how to make the scam phone calls stop. Perhaps someone has stolen your credit card number. Or you've been a victim of identity theft. Even if you haven't yet been the target of a crime, con artists are always out there, waiting for the right moment to steal your information, your money, and your life. As one of the world's most respected authorities on the subjects of fraud, forgery, and cyber security, Frank Abagnale knows how scammers work. In Scam Me If You Can, he reveals the latest tricks that today's scammers, hackers, and con artists use to steal your money and personal information--often online and over the phone. Using plain language and vivid examples, Abagnale reveals hundreds of tips, including: The best way to protect your phone from being hacked; The only time you should ever use a debit card; The one type of photo you should never post on social media; The only conditions under which you should use WiFi networks at the airport; The safest way to use an ATM. With his simple but counterintuitive rules, Abagnale also makes use of his insider intel to paint a picture of cybercrimes that haven't become widespread yet"--
Notes
"AARP."
Contents
- Foreword by Keith Slotter
- Introduction: Smart people get scammed
- The playbook exposed : recognized--and beat--the con artist's game
- Rule #1 Protect your identity. How identity thieves work ; Tax fraud and IRS scams ; Sick : medical identity theft
- Rule #2 Secure your finances. Protect yourself from these bad investments ; Small business shakedowns ; I'm (not actually) from the government : Social Security, government grants, and other "official" scams
- Rules #3 Preserve your digital presence. Fend off cyberattacks ; Passwords are for treehouses : why we need to get rid of them
- Rule #4 Safeguard your home and hearth. The calls that just keep coming : robocalls and nuisance calls ; Great real estate ruses
- Rule #5 Shelter your heart. It's personal : fraud that hurts more than just your wallet ; Charity scams : giving back, or dodgy donations? ; Love you knot : the wild world of dating scams
- Epilogue: Fraud, fast forward.