In today's world we are constantly bombarded by scams of all types, but regardless of the scam, there are some basic rules you can follow to help avoid becoming a victim.

Some of the common scam tactics are:

	High-pressure sales approach - If you don't act now, the offer won't be available to you later.   "Good news- you've won!" - This may not be the case if you are required to pay money up front for taxes, shipping, etc.   A "no risk" opportunity - Wouldn't we all love to make money with no risk involved? If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

While there is no way to avoid all scams, the following are hints that may help you when the time comes:

Never give out personal information such as account numbers or your social security number.

Before giving out credit card numbers, make sure to verify who you are giving those numbers out to. Get a phone number where you can call them back, and try them a few hours later. Ask the sales agent to mail you a pamphlet or brochure. Most people running a scam will want quick money and aren't willing to wait for you to call them back or mail you a brochure.

Most importantly, think before you act. Often times situations can be avoided if we just think about what we are doing.

In the unfortunate case that you do fall victim to sales scams, the following are several resources available to you:

The Arizona Attorney General's Office
The Federal Trade Commission
The Phoenix Better Business Bureau