REMEMBER, IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS! 

NEVER GIVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER TO A PHONE SOLICITOR. 

NEVER PURCHASE LAND THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.

NEVER BUY STOCK SIMPLY ON THE SUGGESTION OF A STRANGER.

NEVER AGREE TO HOME REPAIRS THAT ARE QUICK, CHEAP OR WHERE YOU HAVE TO PAY UP FRONT.

NEVER SEND MONEY AS PART OF A CHAIN LETTER.

ALWAYS BE ALERT. Swindlers and their scams usually cheat people out of nearly $40 million yearly!

BE SKEPTICAL of things that simply sound too good to be true. If you are a victim of a con artist, report it to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office immediately by calling (904)630-2160. Get the word out to help protect your friends and neighbors by using visits or through Neighborhood Watch meetings in the area.

DON'T TRUST STRANGERS WHO OFFER INSTANT CASH.

GET MORE INFORMATION BEFORE BUYING THE "SURE THING" - If you have to buy it "now or never", choose never.

CHECK CHARITIES BEFORE CONTRIBUTING - Know where your money is going and how it will be spent.

COMMON CON GAMES USED BY CON-ARTISTS.

THE "PIGEON DROP"
Strangers tell you they've found a large sum of money or valuables. They say they'll split their good fortune with you if you put up some "good faith" money. You turn over the cash, and you never see them or your money again.

THE "BANK EXAMINER" FRAUD
A so-called bank official asks your help to catch a "dishonest" teller by asking you to withdraw money from your account and turn it over to him or her. He or she can then do an audit or check the serial numbers. You do it and you never see the "bank official" or your money again.

THE "PYRAMID SCHEME"
Someone offers you a painless way to make money. You invest, and then you get others to invest, and they get others to invest and so on. Sometimes the initial investors are paid a small dividend to keep them happy. But when the pyramid crashes, the only one with all the money is the one at the top and you can't find him or her.

"WORK AT HOME" SCHEMES
You've seen the newspaper ads: "Great income for performing unskilled tasks at home!" Jobs like stuffing envelopes emphasize easy work, convenience and high hourly pay. Usually, after you pay for start-up supplies and a how-to book to get you started, the market for your "service" usually dries up. You don't get your investment money back.

THE "FUNERAL CHASER"
Shortly after a relative dies, someone delivers to your door a product, like a Bible, that the deceased allegedly ordered before his or her death. You may even get a bill for an expensive item and you may be requested to make the final few payments. This scam artist uses the newspaper obituaries to prey on the bereaved families. You are not responsible for anyone else's purchases. If the claim is legitimate, the estate will settle.