HANNIBAL, MO -- Captain Jim Hark with the Hannibal Police Department says telephone scams are exactly the kinds of scams *you* need to be aware of.

"I'm here to tell you there's nothing free in this world, and if it sounds too good to be true, doggone it, it's too good to be true," Hark said.

He says if you get a phone call that you've one a prize, you're required to send cash by Western Union, check or credit card, for a larger sum of money, you need to think twice. He says you can protect yourself by not giving the keys away to your life.

Hark says,"Don't provide your bank account information. Don't send cash. Don't pay for products up front, until you receive it."

Hark also says, know the company you're doing business with. Many times, these scams are from another country. If you give in, there's not much your local law enforcement can do, and you may be out of luck.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind...

You can always check out a company with the Better Business Bureau.  There, you can see complaints about the business, or find out if it's legit.  Hark also recommends that you don't make financial decisions under pressure.  Many of these "get rich quick scams" offer deadlines, or encourage you to act *now*.  Hark says, acting quickly could cause you to make a mistake.

Lastly, if you're a victim of a scam, file a complaint with your Attorney General's Office right away.