( (ARA) - Unfortunately, tough times can bring out the worst in some people. That’s especially true of scam artists who prey on those who are down on their luck or who can be easily intimidated.

Scam artists are anything but artists. They’re criminals who use a variety of tools, including the U.S. mail, telemarketing and the Internet to part you from your hard-earned money. Believe it or not, some are so good at what they “sell,” they’ve persuaded people to mortgage or refinance their homes in order to participate in phony sweepstakes, pyramid schemes, investment offers and other scams. In fact, there’s even a breed of scam artists who specialize in “helping” people recover money they’ve lost to other scammers.

Scams and fraudulent activity take on many shapes and forms. Some of the most common scams involve offers of working from home, free travel or gifts, sweepstakes and contests, avoiding a foreclosure, getting out of debt, investing in real estate and chain letters, just to name a few. Unfortunately, common myth holds that only low-income, unsophisticated, blue-collar workers and the elderly are victims of scams. Not true. Highly educated and wealthy individuals have been scammed for millions from seemingly trustworthy business executives.

Federal and state laws prohibit unfair or deceptive trade acts or practices, according to FindLaw.com, the world’s leading online source for legal information. If you think you’ve been cheated, you should immediately contact local law enforcement authorities, the city or county prosecutor, or the state Attorney General’s office. Your state may also offer a consumer protection agency that can provide advice. The more agencies you notify, the more likely someone will take notice of your complaint and act on it.

In addition to contacting local government authorities, FindLaw.com recommends contacting the National Fraud Information Center (www.fraud.org), which is maintained by the National Consumers League. The NFIC provides assistance in filing a complaint with appropriate federal agencies and offers recorded information on current or popular scams and frauds, as well as tips on how to avoid becoming the victim of one. Victims of identity theft should contact a special hotline created by the Federal Trade Commission at (877) ID-THEFT (877-438-4338).

If law enforcement agencies take legal action, they will try to recover your money, but it’s not always possible. If you paid with a credit card or the money was debited from your bank account, you may be able to dispute the charges or debit. Contact your credit card issuer or bank immediately. If the charge was on your telephone bill, contact the company that sent you the bill to find out how you can dispute the charge.

Also consider contacting an action line provided by local newspapers, radio stations, or TV stations. In larger metropolitan areas, some media organizations enlist volunteers who will pursue consumer complaints.

Another way to attempt to get your money back is to bring a lawsuit against the scammer. However, this may not be feasible unless the seller is a local resident and all but impossible if you’re the victim of an international identity theft scam, which have become all too common these days. If you plan to sue, first send a demand letter explaining the problem and asking for your money back. Many states require such a letter before you sue.

The best weapon in the war on scams is to avoid becoming a victim in the first place. Here are 10 tips from FindLaw.com to help you avoid becoming the victim of a scam:

1. Use common sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Or, if it looks like a scam and smells like a scam, it probably is a scam.

2. Screen your phone calls. If you see phone calls coming from a number you do not recognize, or you see “anonymous” or “unknown caller” come up on your telephone, do not answer and allow the call to go to voicemail. Like telemarketers, scammers rarely leave messages. Better yet, sign up for the national “Do Not Call” list. It’s easy: call (888) 382-1222.

3. Beware of any Web sites, mailings, etc., which seek personal information. Avoid giving out your credit card, checking account or social security number.

4. Walk away from salespersons that use high-pressure sales tactics and insist on an immediate decision. Never deal with any salesperson who attempts to scare you into purchasing something.

5. Avoid being placed on “sucker” lists. Avoid filling out contest entry forms at fairs and malls or on the Internet. Especially avoid contests where you need to go to another location to see a sales presentation to “earn” your prize. Avoid solicitations in which you have already been specially selected or awarded a prize, but you haven’t entered a contest.

6. Know with whom you’re dealing. If it’s an unfamiliar company or charity, check it out with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau.

7. The common thread that runs through most telemarketing, mail and Internet scams is the demand for payment upfront. Never consent to a request for a direct bank deposit or a certified check ­ or offers to send a courier to your home to pick up your check.

8. Avoid pyramid schemes that often take the form of chain letters, gifting clubs, or multi-level or network marketing. Pyramid schemes depend on people recruiting other people to join the scheme, with the hope that one day, you will reach the top of the pyramid. That rarely happens because eventually the scheme runs out of people, and then the people who start these schemes walk away with everyone’s money.

9. Beware of work-at-home schemes, such as being paid to take surveys, mystery shopping, or network marketing (recruiting friends to sell a company’s products). These are often set with the trap of paying upfront for “product samples.” If you need to buy something to participate, run, don’t walk away.

10. If you receive an item in the mail that you never ordered or paid for, it’s considered a gift. If you get bills or collection letters from a seller who sent you something you never ordered, write to the seller stating your intention to treat the item as a gift. If the bills continue, insist that the seller send you proof of your order. If this doesn’t stop the bills, notify the state consumer protection agency in the state where the merchant is located. You can also complain about mail fraud to your local U.S. Attorney’s office, and the local postal inspector.

Article courtesy of ARA Content