Tis the season to be...

When we think of the Holiday season we think of family celebrations, lots of food and possibly some gift giving. We all have different holiday traditions and so the celebrations vary for all of us. I hope each and every one of you have the best holiday imaginable. 

The Christmas Carol says that it  "tis the season to be jolly" but, unfortunately, for some it is the season to be scammed.

There are all sorts of ruthless people out there who are working very hard to not only see you part with your hard earned cash but they want to make sure they are the ones who get it. The scams are carried and ingenious. They can be so subtle that you may not even realize that you are being scammed until it is to late. 

I can't blame a sales person for working hard to make a sale even if they know that the person they are selling the product or service to may not need it or can't afford it. At least these sales people are legitimate even if they are short on ethics. It's the straight up con artist that I can't stand.

Just read your local news  and you can read about some unsuspecting pensioner who was scammed out of their life savings with the promise of quick riches or the illusion of helping another. It's despicable.

I heard a story the other day where the mother of a young Marine was nearly scammed. The Marine Mom did not know a lot about how the Corps works but, she had enough sense to know when something seemed out of place. She was smart and held the scammer at bay by saying she did not have the information they needed at hand. Once she was rid of the scammer, she asked for help from friends. The friends gave her exactly the right advice and not only was she able to thwart the con, her son was able to come home as scheduled.

There are scammers out there who will work to take advantage of families of junior military personnel and their families. They know that their military knowledge is limited and therefore, with just a little bit of bluster, the con man can succeed.

Here's my advice: When in doubt, ask! Ask a knowledgeable friend. If it's military, ask someone you trust, like a recruiter. Call the authorities. Just keep asking questions until you are satisfied.

I was once nearly the victim of a scam. But, I believe that if something seems to good to be true, it probably is. So, rather than acting quickly and rashly, I thought about the situation and eventually called my local FBI office. Guess what! They have agents devoted to scams and frauds. Needless to say, I was not victimized.

The authorities are glad to help you. Especially if you are a member of the military or a family member of someone serving, the authorities will jump at the chance to assist. Furthermore, if someone is impersonating a member of the military in order to facilitate criminal activity, that is a federal crime. 

Don't be embarrassed to ask for help. Personally, I would prefer a little embarrassment now and be able to count my money later. Think how embarrassed you would be if the con worked.

OK, that's enough of that. Now on to serious business.  Tomorrow is the annual Army/Navy game in Philadelphia. I've only got one thing to say

Go Navy. Beat Army!!

As Always...

Please remember to donate to Toys for Tots.