RIP-OFF ALERT: There's been so much in the news recently about the rebate checks that could be coming from the government. Scammers are already thinking up ways to take the money out of your pocket! The Department of Consumer Affairs reports scammers have been calling people up and pretending to be from the IRS. They're seeking personal banking info and claiming you won't receive the rebate until they confirm your checking account number. The IRS has responded, of course, by saying they will not be calling to verify any account info.

Once the scammers have your info, they don't do anything with it until they monitor your account and figure out when your balance is at its peak every month. Then they'll strike. Electronic draft is the preferred method of withdrawal because it's very difficult for your bank to monitor. Clarks says you should contact your bank immediately if you feel you recently gave your info to a scammer. You'll likely need to close the account, and your bank will probably put a referral stop in place. The referral stop will ensure that your bank won't reroute requests from your old account to your new one. Of course, you could also get around this problem by taking your business to another bank or credit union. But the bottom line is you should never reveal your account number over the phone. Also, never give your account number to bill collectors; they'll clean you out if you do. The only way to pay a bill collector is on your terms by writing a check.