It is perhaps the biggest, oldest scam of all time, predating even Washington DC politicians and more expensive than bailouts. But it stops here. Hey, “Santa!” We’re calling you out!

When people write to us asking for help getting their money back, the first thing we tell them to try is to dispute the charges with your credit card company. We have found it to be one of the most effective ways in recovering money lost to scams.

A reader writes in to complain about people selling prepaid legal services taking over her bar without buying and without tipping. In my book, people who harm someone’s legitimate job (like tending bar) by trying to boost your own job of questionable legitimacy (like hocking an MLM) are jerks.

Do property preservation companies make any money? With all the foreclosures going on, I don’t see any reason that they wouldn’t. We show you some links where you can get more information about the possibilities.

crew up your checkbook as a normal person and you get slapped by the bank with fat fees. Screw up your balance sheet as a CEO and you get millions of dollars in bonuses AND the government will cover your losses. Talk about your scams!