con artists

Even as many Americans struggle to make ends meet, scammers are plotting all sorts of sneaky ways to rob them of their money -- and in millions of cases, they succeed. When it comes to these cons, the best offense is a smart defense, so here's an intro course in how to spot the latest scams.

Almost 30 years ago, the government's breakup of AT&T changed how telecom billed customers, and scammers discovered a loophole that let them slip unauthorized fees onto consumers' monthly phone bills. Since then, "cramming" has grown into a multibillion dollar a year con game.

Scams targeting cash-strapped and unemployed Americans are on the rise, and the con artists are getting even more creative. Here's how to avoid becoming a victim.

Looking for some extra income fast? With unemployment at 9.6%, rarely has the time been riper for con artists to come out of the woodwork with promises of "easy ways to make money," "quick money" and "how to earn money fast." Don't fall for them. Here are the top 10 job scams you should know about.

Con artists scamming people out of their money certainly isn't new -- but crooks are constantly coming up with new ways to separate customers from their cash, especially in the banking arena. Lately, we've noticed some new scams -- and a few tried-and-true methods -- cropping up in cities across...

Not too long ago, a friend of mine was walking (running) through midtown Manhattan on her way to catch a train. Waiting at the corner for the "walk" signal, she looked around, and saw a tourist – complete with camera, pocket map, and knapsack – looking distraught. "I just had my wallet...

As if it wasn't bad enough that your hero is dead, can you imagine how it must feel to anyone who because of their devotion to Michael Jackson winds up with more spam than ever in their e-mail?That's right. Now that the King of Pop is gone, con artists have begun sending out e-mails with offers for...