For people who grew up in an era when business was done on a handshake, scammers and cons play on that trust. Most of the identity fraud cases involved the use of Social Security numbers. A convicted identity thief recently said that 80 percent of her victims were seniors. Her reasons: seniors often have better credit, and retirement communities are easy targets.

It is sometimes difficult to spot fraud when it is happening. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud. Again, seniors are often the target.

More than 30 million seniors are Internet users. Seniors increasingly are using computers to shop and conduct business, and telemarketers know it. Unfortunately, some of them are criminals who use the Internet to scam millions from unsuspecting victims.

Fraud is a deliberate misrepresentation that causes another person to suffer damages, usually monetary losses. The element of fraud that tends to stymie successful prosecution is the obligation of the victim to investigate. With a lot of common sense and a little time well spent, you can protect yourself from being victimized.

Be suspicious when telemarketers pressure you. Common warning signs are the following claims: "you must act now or the offer won't be good" or "you can't afford to miss this high-profit, no-risk offer" or "you've won a free (prize, gift, vacation, etc.) and all you have to do is pay for (postage and handling, taxes, etc.) to receive it."

Don't be talked into sending cash without a receipt for merchandise, or into giving out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers to unknown persons representing unfamiliar companies.

The recent Nigerian scams use mail, fax and email to contact victims by persons claiming to be a Nigerian prince or doctor asking for help in transferring as much as $10,000,000 to this country in exchange for a profitable percentage of the money; all that is asked is a small fee to prove your honesty.

Work at home scams are played by placing enticing ads in local papers promising guaranteed earnings of $500 or more per week. The tasks are simple, such as stuffing envelopes or preparing mailing lists. An amount of money is required to obtain the step-by-step work plan, which either doesn't arrive or the victims receive instructions that tell how to duplicate the process by which they were victimized.

Seniors living in their own homes are vulnerable to home repair cons. The con offers to pave the driveway, repair the roof or paint the house with supplies that were supposedly left over from another job. The estimate falls far short of the bill presented to the hapless owner when the work is done. In another version of the home repair scam, the con poses as a city official coming in to check the premises only to find supposedly dangerous conditions; he may offer to fix it immediately for a fee, or he may refer another worker to do the repairs--either way, a great deal of money is needed up front for the supplies. The work may never be done or is shoddy.

Always get estimates from several companies and compare them, never pay cash and never pay before the work is completed to your satisfaction. Note, too, that work that affects real estate values generally requires a registered contractor.

Beware of secret systems for winning foreign lotteries. Purchasing even one lottery ticket over the phone will guarantee that you will receive more bogus offers of lottery or investment opportunities.

Some con artists will take advantage of your generosity. Bogus charities range from feeding orphans in Africa, to helping disabled vets, to providing relief for the latest disaster victims. Other charities may keep over 80 percent of the money they raise. Experts advise that seniors give to charities that they know and give to regularly.

Be cautious of any claims of stupendous breakthroughs in medical equipment, treatments or medicines. A sign of quackery is the one and only miracle product that cures a panoply of ailments. It is usually being sold for a discounted price for this limited time.

Investment seminars advertised through television, newspapers and mailed fliers can be another lucrative scam. Speakers promise opportunities to make money with little or no effort, meanwhile guaranteeing the safety of your investment. The offer is only good if you respond immediately.

In the recovery scam--one of the slimiest--compiled lists of seniors who have lost money in scams are sold from one con artist to another; the so-called recovery expert calls the senior who was scammed and offers to get back the lost money for a fee.

To check up on any business, call your local Better Business Bureau.