Scam alerts

Scam artists will forever invent new ways to take people's hard-earned money. During troubled times, they work to use people's fear to their advantage. CPAsuccess.com points out the following scams (which the AICPA and U.S. News and World Report have warned about:

1. "We can magically repair your credit...for an upfront fee!"
2. "Your bank has changed hands, so please send us you personal information."
3. "You can make big money working from home...for an upfront fee!"
4. "There's been unusual activity on your credit card, so we need to verify your card number."
5. "You can get stimulus cash...for an upfront fee!"
6. "You are eligible for more favorable mortgage terms...for an upfront fee!"

The lesson from these? Always keep these two things in mind: Rule 1: Be very, very careful about providing personal information over the phone or via email. Rule 2: Don't pay a "small upfront fee" for promise of a big payout later.