CONfused

If you still believe that you could not be caught consider how we are influenced to spend when we need and how we read into a purchase what we want.

For example if a package says that it contains a product that is good for colds you buy it if you are seeking relief from your illness. However, what the package said "good for colds". Possibly the label indicates that you should take it to get a cold.

New and CONproved

With each con, the crook learns and improves. Stop them as soon as you can. I watched a group of men fall for the Big Dream Con a few years ago. When the Con pontificated I always smelled something unpleasant in the air. If I tried to point out an inconsistency in the dream weaving the men defended him with "but he is an ex police officer". The group lost a large sum of money and were so humiliated that they refused to go after the Con. Emboldened by this success the Con pulled the same routine on a small businessman with a young family and bankrupted him.

Some years ago a Con told a group of investors that he was going to launch the Canadian version of Playboy. He wined and dined them at a sumptuous cocktail party. They got to meet the lovely blonde model who would appear on the first cover. Her photos were displayed around the room. He soaked the investors for a large amount of money. The End? Not quite. The story was a scandal and a local joke for a few years and then the word on the street was that he had returned! He invited the same people to another cocktail reception. They all attended with cutting phrases and legal threats at the ready. He humbly apologized and went on to explain his new business. Many gave him a second large cheque. This time he disappeared for good. The media sought out the cover model from the original incident and she had the last word. She stated that she might be just "the blonde" but she got paid for that cover.

The Shame Game

Humiliation is the weapon of the Con. It often keeps people from going to the police. A classic con from the United States offered magazine readers a way to be taller instantly for only $50.00. The package containing a brick would arrive with instructions that said - "be taller instantly stand on the brick".

In the case of the accountant years of personal relationships with his clients added a layer of humiliation to the loss of their money. The police often appear to victims not to care about this type of crime. The accountant's victims took matters into their own hands and hired a detective. The defense tried to have the evidence gathered by this professional tossed out but the judge accepted it and the accountant went to jail.

CONtacting Organizations

Some business organizations may provide excellent awareness but they have no legal clout to discipline their members. One service group proudly told me that they were ahead of the trend; they had an ethics policy. Always interested in such matters I asked what it stated and how they would sanction a member who violated the code. They were horrified at the idea of a member being sanctioned: I was told "business is business!" Professional organizations often do have the power to act.

Cheques and Checks

• Always check your cheques in your statement. You only have a few days to do this or the bank is not responsible for errors.
  
• Use a cheap ball point to write cheques. It will leave a mark on the paper. Cons have a special liquid they can use to wipe everything from the cheque except your signature. Then they can fill in any amount they like.
  
• Do not accept post dated cheques.
  
• A certified cheque can bounce.
  
• Always get approval for a credit card purchase.
  
  Before you become paranoid consider the study that found people who are open and sensibly trusting and those who are cynical have the same likelihood of being taken; but guess who has a more satisfying life?
  
  

CONtribute

Women are more likely to warn each other about con artists - so let's take that to heart and pass on what we learn.