Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #152977 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781402745058
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
The "Scam-Alert" columnist from the AARP newsletter, Kirchheimer has authored or edited 12-plus Ralph Nader-like salvos aimed at taking out consumer-directed fraud. Kirchheimer interviewed "nearly 100 reformed scammers" for this compendium of recent bilking schemes and corner-cuttings. His advice covers most major mid-life expenses, from buying a new car to buying a home to paying for college to booking a cruise. Chapters on credit cards and identity-theft go into greater depth than most coverage these issues usually get in similar books. Three chapters on healthcare go into detail on everything from drug pricing to malpractice. A final "Roundup of Common Scams" (including the infamous "Nigerian Letter" and cyber "phishing" scams) will leave readers well-informed, and perhaps slightly paranoid. Most helpful is the careful, practical way in which Kirchheimer walks readers through such tasks as reading a phone bill, where to go to find eldercare, or to whom they can complain about shady financial dealings.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Amazing resource for everyone
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.

Be Wise to Scams
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.

Incredible Resource for Everyone
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!