The odds in favor of becoming a victim of fraud are higher than those of becoming a victim of a violent crime. After all, a mugger can only mug one person at a time, but a con artist can swindle hundreds of people at once.Fraud! provides readers with all the weapons they need to defend themselves against economic crime of all kinds -- from "ponzi scams" and "pyramids" to telemarketing fraud and credit card schemes. Using examples, anecdotes of real-life scams, interviews with state and federal regulators, victims of fraud, and actual con artists themselves, Fraud! gives the low-down on the low-lifes behind this billion dollar business.With the advice in this book, readers will be able to: spot a fraud, find a trustworthy stockbroker or financial planner, invest their money, use credit, run a small business, borrow money, and surf the Net -- all without fear of being scammed, swindled, ripped off, or conned in any way.