Customer Reviews

Scam-Proof Your Life: 377 Smart Ways to Protect You & Your Family from Ripoffs, Bogus Deals & Other Consumer Headaches (AARP)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Outstanding book, jam-packed with helpful tips, and fun to read, too.
This book tells everything you ever wanted to know about saving money, avoiding consumer traps, and making the best decisions about buying a car or a home, paying for college, booking a vacation, choosing a phone plan or credit card, and much more. The author interviewed "insiders," the very people you wish you could talk to before spending money. Buying a new or used car? The author talked with car salesmen to find out how they operate. He even interviewed the con artist who inspired the movie "Catch Me If You Can" with Leonardo DiCaprio. Every chapter told me something I never knew before. In some cases, the information makes me feel better prepared, such as the section on how to protect yourself in case of lay-offs, or how to challenge bogus charges on a hospital bill. Even though this is an AARP book, I think it should be required reading for EVERYBODY. I'm giving this book as a gift to my mother, my sister, AND to my nieces and nephews.

There are an amazing number of ways that con artists try to take our money. This book tips us off to 377 ways to protect yourself from these ripoffs and bogus deals. It also gives advice that will save you money in a variety of areas (health care, college costs, home mortgage).
Here are some ways the book helps you prevent being a victim:
*Order checks with just your first initial, but sign them with your full name.
*Remove the hard disk before you trash an old computer.
*Be sure not to misspell a web address which might take you to a look-alike, scam site.
*Take your outgoing mail to a post office or postal box, not in your mailbox.

Even as a retired law enforcement officer, I was surprised about how much I learned reading this book. It provides clear, but often little-known secrets on how to avoid everyday consumer traps, and provides a good look into the inner workings of various scams. The topics covered are expansive, and include nearly every purcahse and then some. From buying or repairing cars to getting a mortgage to avoiding diseases and protecting your job, this book covers it all. It is clear and cleverly written and research is fantastic. Really an excellent book!

I loved the advice in this book, which is really a manual to keep you from getting ripped off. There are so many people out there who are looking to get at your money, it's not funny. And this book is not just for Old- Timers as the publisher may hint at- there's good stuff in here from protecting yourself against identity theft (big problem today) to email fraud.

The book is a lot like a favorite of mine: How to Take Advantage of the People Who Are Trying to Take Advantage of You:, which is funnier and has more historical insight, but Kircheimer knows his stuff. Get this book if you want to protect yourself against the parasites out there and get "How to Take Advantage" if you want to turn the tables on them and actually make money on them!

SCAM-PROOF YOUR LIFE: 377 SMART WAYS TO PROTECT YOU & YOUR FAMILY FROM RIPOFFS, BOGUS DEALS AND OTHER CONSUMER HEADACHES isn't your usual compendium of tips, but comes from a 'scam alert' expert who has gathered information from all kinds of industry insiders, from doctors to home repair experts and bankers. Thus, you'll receive bankers' tips on protecting your accounts, profiles of typical repair con-men, coverage of common car repair scams, and much more. Since nearly every consumer is at risk for one or more of these scams, SCAM PROOF YOUR LIFE is an essential reference for everyone.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Scam-Proof Your Life is a really good book with lots of information that will teach you ways to protect yourself against the scams and frauds we face everyday. It seems like we are constantly faced with people trying to cheat us out of our money. This book is both fun to read, and very informative, and will make you aware of some of the scams used by these criminals to steal your money!

This book should be required reading for the entire country. A crisp and invigorating read, 'Scam Proof,' by Sid Kirchheimer, is packed with information on topics ranging from Telephone Service to Identity Theft; chapters 3, 7, and 8 are especially informative. The length to which the credit card companies will go to fleece Americans borders on the criminal. Furthermore, the similarities that exist between the unfair but legal practices of some of America's most powerful institutions and the ambitious professional conmen of the day are unsettling. Get ready to feel paranoid and disappointed, because this book is an eye opener.

Great book to skim,looking for specific information, or to read all the way through. Practical advice, and easy steps to solve any possible problems.A good book to have in any reference shelf.

What a find -- everyone needs this book! It's filled with pages and pages of great information that can save you money and aggravation. Many thanks to this author.

So informative. I was unaware of all the ways I could be scamed. I hightly recommend this book, very educational for young and old.