Your money is in jeopardy and you may not even know it. Study after study demonstrates that scam artists who prey on unwary Americans and fleecing them of their savings are on the rise and more successful than ever. Credit card fraud alone cost Americans $2 billion in 2007, according to Celent Communications.

What can you do? Fight back by knowing what to look for and learning to anticipate the tricks of the trade used by unscrupulous hucksters and con artists.

Here are some good tips from the folks at ClearPoint Financial Solutions, a finance company that focuses on consumer fraud:

Telemarketing Scams

According to the Alliance Against Fraud in Telemarketing (AAFT) Americans lose nearly $40 billion a year due to telemarketing fraud. Top phone scams include: free prize offers, charitable solicitations, travel offers, investment fraud, “900” numbers and advance-fee loan scams. This is not to say that all telemarketing solicitations are fraudulent, as many are perfectly legitimate. To be safe though, consumers should consider the following when dealing with a telemarketing call:

Be wary of free prize offers. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is! Declining the offer and ending the call is your best defense.

Check your charities. You should never make a monetary donation over the telephone. Instead, if a charitable organization contacts you over the telephone for a donation, ask that they send you literature in the mail instead. Nearly all organizations would be happy to accept a check in the mail. That way, you can determine that you are sending money to the correct charity, rather than giving your credit card information to a potential thief over the phone.

Investigate investments. Never discuss investment opportunities with a solicitor. You should only conduct this type of business with a company that you  have selected based upon doing your homework. Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. When in doubt, just hang up!

Unsubscribe. To eliminate telemarketing calls altogether, consumers have the option to sign up with the National Do Not Call Registry. To do so, consumers can visit www.donotcall.gov.

Phishing and Vishing Scams

Phishing occurs when scam artists send emails that appear to be from a bank or e-commerce organization. Typically the message warns the consumer that their account has been compromised, and that immediate action and response is necessary to fix the problem. Consumers are advised to click on links within the email to start the process. Vishing occurs in the same manner, however the recipient is directed to call a number to correct the problem, and is then prompted to give their account information over the phone. Avoid these types of scams by:

Stay away from links. Never click on a link that is included in a suspicious email. Not only does it legitimize your email address, it can direct you to a fraudulent site that can 
capture your account information. Never follow prompts to enter your personal information online. Again, if you’re concerned about fraudulent account activity, check your account statements and notify your bank.

Exercise caution. Suspicious emails are just that –  suspicious. Be extra cautious if you see an email from your bank that’s asking for your account information. Since your bank already has your account numbers on file, they will never ask for it in an email. Simply delete the email and move on. If you are concerned about your account, be sure to call your bank, using the telephone number that’s printed on your bank statement, not the number that’s in the email.

Report spam. Want to stop the spam from hitting your inbox? According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, you can report phishing or spoofed emails to the Federal Trade Commission the Internet Crime Complaint Center and to the company that is being spoofed.

ATM Scams

It may sound more like a new dance move, but the Lebanese Loop is actually an ATM scam. Scam artists will insert a plastic sleeve into the ATM and then wait for bank visitors to insert their card to access their account. When someone inserts their card into the machine and enters their PIN, the machine is unable to read the card and recognize the number. The person then assumes that the machine ate their card and walks away. The scam artist is then able to retrieve the plastic sleeve out of the ATM along with the person’s card.

Be aware of your surroundings. Before approaching an ATM machine, take a quick scan to see if there are any suspicious persons nearby. Always make sure you are using an ATM that’s in a well-lit area, and, if it can be avoided, never use an ATM after dark. Trust your instincts. If the area does not feel safe, try to locate another ATM.

Check the ATM. Before inserting your card into the ATM, check the machine to see if anything looks out of place or broken. If you feel the machine has been tampered with, use another ATM or go inside the bank to withdrawal your funds

Act quickly. If your card gets stuck inside the machine, immediately notify the bank or your credit card company and have them cancel the card. If it’s during business hours, ask if a bank representative can access the machine to retrieve your card.

Let's face it, times are tough enough without having some scam artists pout the hook on your wallet, credit card, or bank account. In this case, an ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure.