Don't become a victim of fraud!

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Technology today makes it easy for con artists to imitate or pretend to be a person or company. It is therefore so important to do research on a business before you spend money or give out personal information.

Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim:

• Review your monthly statements and look for charges or transactions you don't recognize.
• Stay away from deals that promise low-risk, high return investment opportunities.
• Don't send money to people you don't know, and don't feel pressured by deals that urge you to 'act now.'
• If you do spend your money, use a payment option that will protect you. Milagros Johnson of the Springfield Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information told 22News that this means using a credit card instead of a debit card.

“With a debit card, you don't have the same protection you do with a credit card. If you're doing business online with a company, use a major credit card because you do have protection under the laws,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that consumer fraud can happen to anyone, but it's less likely to happen to a savvy consumer who uses common sense. Remember: if something seems to good to be true, it most likely is.