Synopses & Reviews
They are Out to Get You! Chuck Whitlock, the world's leading scam-buster, wises you up to the incredible variety of cons just waiting to rid you of your wallet, your health, and your pride. Renowned to viewers of Oprah and Hard Copy, Geraldo and Sally Jesse Raphael, Inside Edition and CNN, Chuck Whitlock has exposed hundreds of con artists and reenacted scores of scams on camera. In his Scam School he reveals the tricks of the con artist's trade as he recounts his adventures going undercover to expose the most common and crafty scams circulating today scams like:
- The faith healer who sold "human fat" candles at $900 a pop
- The new hire who wooed his boss and then bilked her out of her life savings
- The Three-Card Monte game that cost one man $25,000
- The nursing home that double-charged patients and Medicare, pocketing the profits
At once shocking, entertaining, and empowering, the true stories in Chuck Whitlock's Scam School will give you a Ph.D. in street smarts. "In a culture where people are increasingly being victimized by fraud, Scam School is a must read." Vincent Bugliosi, Author of Helter Skelter "Chuck has educated millions of viewers about the dangers of con artists. This book can help avert tragedies." Sally Jesse Raphael "Knowledge is power. Scam School will make you powerful." John G. Di Liberto, President & Ceo, National Insurance Crime Bureau "Through his investigative reporting and on-camera scams, Chuck has probably cost con artists millions of dollars in lost revenues" Terry Murphy, Hard Copy Visit us Online at http://www.mcp.com/mgr/macmillan
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
1. Going Undercover to Expose Crime.
2. Profile of the Predator.
3. Religious and Spiritual Fraud.
4. Street Hustlers, Shills, and Steerers.
5. Easy Targets: Isolated, Trusting, and Vulnerable Seniors.
6. Phony Doctors, Phony Cures.
7. When Love Is Blind: Conning Desperate People.
8. Frightening Tales from Retail.
9. Insurance at a Premium.
10. The Great Pyramids: Pyramid Schemes That Would Stun the Pharaohs.
11. So You Want to be in Pictures? the Lure of Celebrity.
12. Risky Business.
13. Breaking the Bank: Is Your Money Safe?
14. It's Better to Receive Than to Give: Charity Cons.
15. "Guaranteed" Returns on Dangerous Investments.
16. The Con Artist of the Future.
17. Fighting Back Against Con Artists.
Final Exam.
Glossary.
Resources.
Bibliography.
Index.