Here is a listing of some common scams that try to separate you from your money.

1. Ponzi schemes or pyramid schemes. There are many variations of this scheme. It usually involves you getting a few other people to buy into some "good deal". Even if you are lucky enough to get in early, do you really want to make money from others that are fool enough to sign on? Here is the bottom line, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
2. Internet Phishing. This is a recent scheme to try and get your personal information via the web / email. It is a form of identity theft. It uses fake web pages that seems like the real thing such as a bank, and it tries to scare you to think that you may loose your access. It ask for your personal information "to verify...". Banks and legitimate businesses will never solicit this kind of info via email or via a web page. They are very clever and can even fake the URL address. I've seem one recently where the URL used is exactly the same as the legitimate Bank.
3. Timeshare and vacation club promotions. There are many timeshare promotions that try to get you to visit them by enticing you with free gifts or cash or gift certificates or show tickets. They require you to attend a 3 hour sales pitch which is not a pleasant experience. Your vacation time is precious, don't waste it on this scam.
4. Sweepstakes. These are scams that try to sign you up for magazine subscriptions. You are lead to believe that you are a winner and that signing up will increase your chances to win.
5. Automatic withdraws from your credit card. Some excercise gyms will try and get you to pay the monthly dues via monthly credit card deductions. Don't do it. Let them bill you each month.
6. Check your monthly statement from banks and credit cards closely. Many banks and credit cards have hidden fees that in my opinion are deliberate misleading. They will charge you and hope that you won't notice. If you call them and inquire, they will credit your account and claim some lame excuse.
7. Special offers from your bank. Some banks have included in their monthly statement either a check or a special offer for gifts. Read the small print. They are not free or a gift. They usually involve you signing up to some plan that you don't need or want which incur a fee. Don't deposit the check. The gifts are junk.
8. Be careful of free trial periods. Some services offered online will offer you a free trail period. This is a scam to get you to enter your credit card number. Once they have it, you will be charged a monthly fee after the first month. They will make it difficult for you to cancel or they hope you will forget about it.
9. Don't fall for the unsolicited stock tips. They are usually for penny stocks. These stocks are worthless. The people engaged in these activities are doing a pump and dump. They try to get people excited about a stock to temporarily push the price higher so that they can sell and make a profit.
10. Nigerian email scam. This has been around a while but some people still fall for it. Don't give out your banking information unless you know them personally.
11. Auto leasing and loans. Make sure you check the monthly payment on any car loan or lease agreement. Use an independent loan calculator. Don't trust the saleman or their computer printout. A small difference in a monthly payement can mean hundreds of dollars over the life of the loan. I have personally experienced and caught "mistakes" that could have changed the loan rate by a few percent.
12. Currency exchange overseas. When traveling overseas, make sure you know what currency they are charging on your credit card. Some places will try and cheat you by charging US dollars instead of the local currency.
13. Student loan consoilidation. Some outfits will add additional fees to unsuspecting students when cosolidating their student loans. They will not tell you about these hidden fees. Make sure you know the exact amount of your loan and the rate that you are being charged before you sign on the dotted line.
They will usually quote you an "estimate" which is lower than what you will end up by a few dollars. That few dollars will translate to a few hundred dollars over the life of the loan.
14. Class action lawsuits. Never sign up to these class action lawsuits if you are solicited. Even though they don't cost you anything. These lawsuits are only designed to make the lawyers rich. They never help the victims.
15. Department store or Mall gift cards. - Avoid these cards like the plague. They cost a fee up front when you buy them. There is usually a limited time period to spend them. Read the small print. After that period, they will deduct a monthly fee from the account until the balance goes to zero. If you forget to use the card, too bad.

Finally, I will repeat this important rule to remember. IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.
There is a sucker born every minute, don't be one of them. 
Make sure you check your Credit report at least once a year. They are free for the asking.

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