Weapons of Fraud" Exposes Swindlers' Secrets"

By: States: Washington | Source: AARP.org |  | July 24, 2006

Have you ever wondered how con artists steal money from their victims? How they could tempt you to hand over your hard-earned money, maybe even your life savings, to a fraud?

These criminals knowingly use a bag of time-tested psychological tricks that work over and over again.

Now you can read and hear this ground-breaking material for yourself.

"Weapons of Fraud" by Douglas P. Shadel and Anthony Pratkanis is a new source book and audio CD package that goes deep into the shadowy world of professional scammers. And it's free to Washington residents.

"Weapons of Fraud" is the result of a year-long effort by AARP and a number of law enforcement agencies as they analyzed hundreds of undercover tapes of cons in action. Using their own words, "Weapons of Fraud" turns swindlers into unlikely allies in the fight against consumer fraud.

The source book helps readers identify the underlying building blocks of today's most popular scams and prepares consumers to recognize and protect themselves from the scams of tomorrow.

Along with the inside story on consumer fraud, "Weapons of Fraud" includes a CD with audio clips of actual con artists as they unwittingly attempt to rip-off undercover investigators posing as elderly victims. Readers will learn how to pinpoint the psychological tactics used in these real life examples of criminals at work.

"Weapons of Fraud" has attracted nationwide attention. It's been featured in Money magazine, on television by "ABC's World News Tonight", "Northwest Afternoon" on Seattle's KOMO-TV, and on Spokane's KXLY News. The Seattle Times featured "Weapons of Fraud" in a front page story.

The "Weapons of Fraud" publication is available free to Washington consumers interested in joining the nation's largest volunteer Fraud Fighting force.

Currently, over 5,000 Fraud Fighters in Washington State are fighting back against swindlers and criminals by keeping up-to-date on the latest scams, and by sharing that information with their friends, families and communities.

Fraud Fighters also receive timely alerts on the latest and most current scams, as well as information about new training opportunities and resources.

You can order your copy of Weapons of Fraud by calling 800-646-2283 or sending an email to aarpwa@aarp.org. Please include your first and last name, telephone number and address in your email.  Please allow at least 14 working days for delivery of your "Weapons of Fraud" package.