Everyone should be cognizant of how to protect themselves against scams, fraudulent schemes, and a variety of confidence games that they may encounter.

Just as there is no typical profile for swindlers, neither is there one for their victims.  Virtually anyone can fall prey to fraudulent crimes.

Victims of fraud come from a variety of racial, age, gender, religious, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.  Smart perpetrators prey on those differences.

Always remember that every scam depends on a the willingness to invest confidence in what you are being told.

The National Association of Bunco Investigators has created a comprehensive Web site on common cons and scams.