| A | B |
|---|
| Failure to plan | Not making shopping lists, spending plans, doing comparison shopping, etc. |
| Failure to protect | Not securing personal information and property |
| Failure to be informed | Not reading labels, fine print, contracts, sales offers, etc. |
| Failure to communicate | Not asking questions, discussing purchases, saying “no” when needed |
| Scam/scheme | A plot designed to trick someone; a deception |
| Illegal | Against the law |
| Lie/lying | To tell an untruth/the habit or practice of telling untruths |
| Concealing information | Hiding information; hiding the truth |
| Pyramid Scam | Scam that usually involves a “get rich quick” chain letter, sending money to others in order to, supposedly, receive big returns on “investment’; ex: Ponzi scheme |
| Chain letter | A letter asking one to send several letters with money in order to, supposedly, receive money in the mail yourself; type of pyramid scheme |
| High-pressure sales approach | Using extreme tactics to persuade a consumer to buy immeidately |
| Vague offers | Offers that withhold certain details, expecting one to pay up front to get them |
| Sweepstakes letter | States that one has won a valulable prize, but must pay a fee to claim it |
| Lottery | Prizes awarded by chance after purchase of a ticket; very small chance of winning |
| Earn-money-at-home offers | Offers that suggest making a lot of money without much effort & without a real job; usually hinges on a consumer first purchasing something |
| Condition | A stipulation or prerequisite that must be accomplished first |
| Winning bid at auctions | A scam artist may notify you that you have the winning bid, ask for money, but never ship the item purchased |
| Identity theft | Stealing one’s personal information to commit theft or fraud |
| Media | Means of communicating---e.g., word of mouth, telephone, texting, emails, etc. |
| Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | a government agency to assist consumers who’ve been victims of fraud |
| National Consumers League | Has a website where incidents of consumer fraud may be reported |
| State Attorney General | This state office assists consumers who have been victimized by fraud |
