Crime & Safety
5 Tips to Protect Yourself From Con Men
Con men have a variety of ways of getting to you. Follow these tips, provided by Cuyahoga Falls and North Canton police, and don't get duped.
Answering the phone, opening suspicious mail or signing up for prize contests can leave you susceptible to scams.
To help fend off would-be con men, Patch spoke to Cuyahoga Falls police and North Canton Police Lt. Stanley Strausser who offered some great tips on the issue:
1. The golden rule: If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
2. Be wary if a stranger contacts you with an investment proposal. Typically, it would be you seeking out someone to invest money.
3. Use your Caller ID. If someone calls and you don't recognize the number, don't answer it. If the caller leaves a voicemail, listen to it and decide for yourself if you want to speak to them. Generally, scam artists don't leave voicemails, they just move onto the next target.
4. Don't believe you won prize contests that you can't recall entering.
5. Be wary of which prize contests you sign up for. It's an easy way for a con man to get your name, email and phone number.
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