Avoiding Scams: One Couple's Story

We stopped at a rest area and were approached by a woman requesting money to buy a bus ticket. She needed to get to Oklahoma City because of a family crisis, and her car had broken down. Even though very young at the time, my husband and I weren't totally naive. We also didn't have any cash on us. We offered to buy her a ticket outright. After all, a bus trip from Austin, Texas, to Oklahoma isn't all that big a deal.

She said if we'd just give her the money she'd buy the ticket. We repeated we didn't have any money, but we'd take her to the bus station and buy a ticket with a credit card. She once again asked that we give her money. We told her for the third time we didn't have any cash and that was the best we could do. We then walked away. As we got back in our car we saw her in the car she'd said was inoperable with a man and they were pulling out of the parking lot.

As scams go this one was fairly straight forward-give me money. These are scams where the victim is approached with a sob story and nothing is promised in return; just give some money so the person can buy a meal, a bus ticket etc. Though aware such things are likely to be scams I often do give the person a dollar or a McDonald's gift card. I don't offer much because the likelihood of the person being genuinely in need of aid is pretty unlikely. I do like to feel good about myself though and consider that just occasionally the person might really need my bit of aid.

Another type of scam that is far more dangerous to a victim is the promise of great gain in return for no risk. The possibility of risk is never mentioned with this type of scam. The best way too avoid being the victim of this type of scam is to take as your mantra: If something is too good to be true, it is.

Almost every scam offers the victim a deal that promises something for nothing or a way to get more than is reasonable for the price.

If you are offered a deal that makes your heart beat faster and conjures images of wealth, fame and glory then it is time to be very, very careful. Either you are being set up to take a fall, loose money or you are missing something important. The quickest way to extract yourself from this type of hazard is to say, "This sounds interesting, but I'll need to do some research first." You will either be told time is of essence or offered some already digested research. Either way, keep backing out of the deal. Your bank account will thank you.