Don't Become a Victim of Fraud

The chances are good that the person sitting next to you may have been a victim of a crime. Statistics indicate that 8 out of 12 Americans will become victims of a crime at least once in their lifetimes. Most people think of violent crimes; rape, assault, and robbery when they think of crime victims and seem to over look another type of crime.
Not all victims experience crimes of violence. According to the Office for Victims of Crime, fraud, identity theft & financial schemes victimize millions of Americans each year. Consumers fall prey to phony investment scams, get-rich-quick schemes, foreign lotteries, telemarketing fraud, Internet scams, and identity theft every day. Millions of hard-earned dollars and life savings of victims line the pockets of scammers, who have no regard for their victims or the damage they've done to their lives.
In one year, 10 million Americans become victims of identity theft, according to the Better Business Bureau, with a loss of over $50 billion. Insurance fraud cost the average family hundreds of dollars per a year in higher insurance premiums.
Victims often feel helpless in the aftermath of a crime. They feel alone and isolated by the crime and many are financially devastated. If you or someone you know or love does become a victim of a financial crime or any other type of crime, there are countless professionals and volunteers who stand ready to help cope with the consequences of the crime, to offer support and to provide guidance that can help victims better understand their options.
The good news is that there are laws ready to protect victims. The Federal Crime Victims' Bill of Rights was created to give victims a proper place in the criminal justice system, ensure they have the opportunity to be heard and provide assistance to further their recovery process. Most states also have victims' rights laws for cases handled in the local criminal justice system.

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www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CLHMS CRB CRS GREEN GRI
Past President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900