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Banking Scams Retirement Living
T
he Federal Trade Commission warns consumers that fake checks, including cashier’s checks, can
look so real even bank tellers can be fooled. Forgeries can take weeks to discover. However, just because you can withdraw the money doesn’t mean a check is good. If a check bounces, you owe the bank any money you withdrew. If someone wants to send you a check,
insist on a cashier’s check. Never accept a check and then agree to send a portion of the money back to the sender. If you cash an unsolicited check you’ve received in the mail, you could be agreeing to pay for prod- ucts or services you don’t want or need, such as Internet access or membership in a Web directory. “Guarantees” for credit
cards or loans, regardless of credit history, are probably a scam. For information or to report a scam, visit www.consumer.ftc.org. Legitimate offers of credit often come in the form of “convenience checks,” which credit card companies enclose with your statement. If you don’t want the checks, be sure to shred them to protect yourself from dumpster divers and identity thieves. Watch out for checks from someone in
a foreign country claiming you have won a lottery or asking for an investment or to pay for an item you sold online. This could be a scam. You are responsible for checks you deposit. Unless you know and trust the person who sent it to you, don’t rely on money from a check until your bank says the check has cleared.
Family Matters
Discover helpful resources for military spouses and children.
Equipped with the right tools, military parents can serve as buffers against the challenges their children face. Professionals in
health care, family service, education, rec- reation, and faith-based services who work with
military families also can help reduce the dis- tress military children experience and foster individual and fam- ily resilience. In part, that means becoming familiar with the risks that can compromise a military child’s health and development. Learn more about
the effects of traumatic grief on military chil- dren through the Na- tional Child Traumatic Stress Network at www.nctsnet.org.
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