Parents often use platitudes like: "Don't sit so close to the TV or you'll go blind," and "don't make a face or it will freeze that way." Perhaps the one we should have paid attention to is, "Don't talk to strangers." It's hard to know who to trust, and even harder to know who to turn to when your trust has been misplaced. According to the latest Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study, 30 million Americans fell victim to consumer fraud in a one-year period. Young adults living on their own for the first time are common targets. It can be extremely difficult to get the money back, so the best thing is to learn how to avoid scams in the first place.

Craigslist.org is one of the most widely used websites for selling, purchasing, renting, or exchanging just about anything. However, it can become a minefield for unsuspecting targets.

For example, a friend of mine needed someone to sublet a room from her for the summer. She posted an ad on Craigslist explaining the situation, and received a reply in error-ridden English from someone claiming to be a young French woman who needed a room. Despite a few miscommunications, the "girl" eventually sent two $1,500 money orders. My friend became suspicious, as $3,000 was way more than a summer's worth of rent, and decided to google the "girl's" information. Sure enough, multiple websites informed her that this was a common Craigslist scam.

The scammers send more than the required amount of money in the form of money orders or cashier's checks, and then ask for some of the money to be returned. The victim returns the requested amount, only to find out they have been scammed after the money order or cashier's check fails to clear.

Fortunately, my friend did her research before sending money to the stranger. There were many reasons for suspicion, but one of the most important was that genuine United States Postal Service money orders cap at $1,000. For more information on other Craigslist scams and how to avoid them, visit craigslist.org/about/scams.

Magazine con artists use an age-old scam routine. The mark is approached by a salesperson that uses emotional appeals to encourage a purchase.

For example, a pregnant girl came to my house a few years ago explaining that she was a community college student selling magazine subscriptions to support her future child. With a story like that, many people wind up purchasing an overpriced magazine subscription out of pity. Months pass with no magazines. Eventually it's apparent that it's a scam.

If this happens to you, don't just cut your losses. Report the violation to the FTC immediately at ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. The more information you have regarding the purchase--receipts, name of the company, etc.--the better. The FTC doesn't resolve individual complaints, but they use consumer reports to detect crime patterns and guide investiga¬tions and prosecutions.

To avoid the scam altogether, check out the credibility of door-to-door salesmen with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) at bbb.org, compare the price of their subscription to regular rates, and ask the seller to show you the required cancellation notice before agreeing to a purchase. If you make a purchase at your home greater than $25, you have three days to cancel your order for a full refund under the FTC's "Cooling-Off Rule." For more info, visit ftc.gov and search "magazine subscription scams."

With the current state of the economy, many Americans find themselves in desperate need of a job. Unfortunately, scammers are experts at kicking people when they're down. With the unemployment rate near 10%, job-hunt scammers have a large pool of applicants. One of the most common job-hunt scams is a job offer that requires an up-front fee. According to the BBB, reports are flooding in from job seekers who are asked to pay a small fee to cover the cost of a background check or training. Legitimate companies will never ask you to pay fees for employment consideration.

Other victims are duped by phony headhunter firms who charge up to $195 and guarantee the seeker job placement. Of course, not only does the seeker never receive a job, but there is no way of getting the money back. Thoroughly research any job placement company before signing up. For more details, visit bbb.org and search "job scams."

Vacations should be relaxing, but scammers have no manners. According to scambusters.org, a valuable scam information resource, one of the most common scams involves tricking marks into divulging credit card information over the phone late at night.

The scammer calls a hotel room claiming to be the receptionist, politely asking to verify the last four digits of the guest's credit card number. The scammer reads off four made-up numbers. When the guest tiredly says that the number is incorrect, the scammer asks for the full card number and expiration date.

Rather than falling for the scam, inform the caller that you'll come down to the front desk in the morning to straighten everything out. If you've fallen victim to this scam, call your credit card company immediately and alert them. As with any scam, report the crime in detail to the FTC. To learn more about travel scams, search "travel scams" at scambusters.org.

Complaints against auto repair shops are near the top of consumer-complaint lists each year. Dishonest mechanics have easy prey considering that the majority of customers know nothing about cars. One of the most common auto repair scams is a padded bill. An innocent customer brings a car into an unfamiliar mechanic for a simple repair and winds up with a bill for everything under the sun. Or perhaps the mechanic performs a poor repair to ensure that the car will need to be brought back in.

In either case, the best way to handle the situation is to report the repair shop to the BBB and your state attorney general's office. Keeping all receipts and paperwork as documentation always helps to make your case. In the future, ask trusted friends and family for a mechanic recommendation and do your research before taking a car in for repairs--try the mechanic search at cartalk.com/content/mechx or find a AAA-certified mechanic at aaa.com. Make sure the auto shop you frequent only employs mechanics certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Ask for an upfront estimate and make sure the technician is willing to give you an itemized invoice regarding repairs and charges.

Sources: craigslist.org; ftc.gov; bbb.org; scambusters.org; bankrate.com; ic3.gov; badgerherald.com; usa.gov; cartalk.com; ftccomplaintassistant.gov; usnews.com; usps.com; bls.gov; aaa.com