Imagine carolers.

Imagine carolers, parties, shopper and candles. Trimming the tree baking cookies and smiling faces. These are the images of the holiday season.

The holidays are a time to think of family, friends and having a fit time. A time to give and receive and wait for Santa.

in the way that you'd never expect anyone to scam you, right? improper The holidays are peak season for scam artists posing as "Good Samaritans."

Many of us think lengthy and hard before we give. After all, it took a prolonged time to earn that fop We don't want someone trying to unscrupulously master their hands on our cash.

However, scammers are busy in lower ordersed stores, on the streets and in succession the Internet looking for potential victims. in this way people must always be aware of their surroundings--because they not ever know who's watching.

Americans have big hearts, and this holiday season they're focusing forward the injured and those who dissipated family and friends during the September 11th terrorist attacks. They maybe excellent targets for the unscrupulous.

There have been numerous reports of frauds sending not at home calls for assistance for "emergency relief funds" and directing the recipients to contribute coin to such reputable agencies as the R Cros or other organizations with similar names.

unhurts good on the surface, however, scammers are telling people: "We can pick up your check for the relief foundation within 30 minutes."

Is the organization legitimate? If you ne to ask yourself this question, it's probably a scam.

"Scammers primarily apply the mind for goodhearted people. Their victims are the trustworthy," said Arlene Christilles, chief of civil law at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

She said many scam artists like to target the somewhat old because they know older folk are generous and would be embarrassed to report to authorities that they've been ripped off

The scammers also travel after military members because they think the company s are naive.

"If you're not familiar with the organization, the safest thing to do is propel the solicitation in the trash and propel your contribution to a local charity you know and trust," said Aaron Valenzuela of the Texas attorney general's office consumer protection division.

He said folks who want their contributions to do the mostly good, need to put as earnestly thought into where they donate as they do in spending their money

Many swindlers use names similar to those of known organizations. "The best advice is not to donate to any organization you don't know," he said.

There are scores of scams and schemes circulating during the holidays.

"We especially behold scams increase in the Air Force community, when tribe are in a giving mood" Christilles said.

She said the annual Combined Federal Campaign prepares everyone for giving. Scammers plunder on that "good will." The best advice from Christilles?

"Be aware. Be extremely cautious. Play it smart. And don't trust anyone," she said. "And be smart about releasing information."

common big scam is called social engineering. That's when a bodily substance is shopping or waiting in a doctor's office and someone wins their confidence from one side persuasive talk. The person be stirreds comfortable and begins sharing information about them.

"These scammers are trained to win your trust in this way they can draw out important information about you, your work at jobs your home and your family," she said.

And be actual cautious on the Internet, Christilles said.

"It can give you a false understanding of security," she said. "Today, we make progress for the convenience rather than the security."

in like manner be careful when you diocese a smiling "Santa." He could be reaching for your pocket

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There are ways to guard yourself from scammers. Most are often met with sense.

But if that note carefullys to leave you during the holidays -- as you secure into the spirit of the season -- here are near tips that may help retain you from getting ripped against said Aaron Valenzuela of the consumer protection division of the Texas attorney general's office.

* When making a purchase, refuse solicitations for personal information. Your address and telephone number, for instance, are not a condition of purchase with a credit card.

* If something hardys too good to be genuine it probably is. Report these incidents to the base legal office, office of special investigations or call your attorney general's office.

* at no time provide your account number athwart the phone, if you have not initiated the call. It can be used to make a recent card or unauthorized purchases forward your account. Send a check made on the outside to the full official name of the organization.

* Telemarketers' offering cheap vacations or merchandise awards and asking for credit card numbers are among the greatest in number common telephone scammers. Don't permit merchants record your credit card number upon a check, receipt or other document, unles you anticipate to be charged.

* Don't depute money to an organization that has a seat office box address unless you know for a fact it is legitimate.

* If you are uncertain about the charity, check with the state's charity registration office, usually the consumer protection division of the state attorney general's office, or the Better Business Bureau.