Don't be a "courtesy" victim. Walk away or hang up if something sounds questionable. Con artists will exploit your good manners.

Check out strangers touting strange deals. Say "no" to any investment agent who wants an immediate decision. Check out the salespeople and their firms with your securities department and NASD, a self-regulatory body. Find tips on avoiding fraud at the North American Securities Administrators Association's site: www.nasaa.org.

Stay in charge of your money. Beware of anyone who suggests you invest in something you don't understand or who urges you to leave everything in his or her hands.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Successful con artists sound and look professional and can make the flimsiest investment deal sound as safe as putting money in the bank.

Watch out for salespeople who prey on fear. Con artists know you worry about outliving your savings or seeing all of your money vanish as the result of a catastrophic event, such as a costly hospitalization. Fear can cloud your judgment.

Don't make a tragedy worse with rash financial decisions. The death or hospitalization of a spouse has many sad consequences. Financial fraud shouldn't be one of them. If you find yourself suddenly in charge of your own finances, get the facts before making decisions.

Monitor your investments and ask tough questions. Insist on regular written reports. Watch for signs of excessive or unauthorized trading of your money.

Look for trouble retrieving your principal or cashing out profits. Beware of advisers who stall when you want to pull out your principal or profits. Some investments restrict withdrawals for a certain period. But you must be told of these restrictions before investing.

Don't let embarrassment or fear keep you from reporting fraud or abuse. Every day you delay reporting fraud or abuse, the con artist could be spending your money and finding new victims. You can file a complaint with law enforcement, with your state securities commissions and with the Federal Trade Commission, at www.ftc.gov or 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).

Beware of "reload" scams. If you're already the victim of a scam, don't compound the damage by letting con artists "reload" and take more of your assets. Con artists will promise victims they can get back the original money lost.