The Cambridge Consumers' Council now has more consumer information pamphlets about the misuse of the telephone by scam artists than any other topic. Here are some new scams to watch for and avoid:

• A telephone call says, "You've won a prize, you won a free trip, give me your credit card to charge the small deposit fee to hold the prize for you." Do not give out the number or send in a check either! You do not win legitimate prizes over the telephone, ever! If you like to take chances, buy a Massachusetts lottery ticket, play Bingo or buy a raffle ticket at a church fair.
• You receive a post card telling you to call an 800# or a 900# to find out what guaranteed prize is yours. This is another gimick to collect "shipping and handling fees," deposit fees, telephone costs from you, or to sell you some product that is no good. Do not even bother to make the telephone call!
• A telemarketer may ask you to verify your identity by reading your checking account number to him. Don't ever give out your checking account number over the telephone! Your bank doesn't even need your signature to make a payment if an electronic request is made to your account number.

There are many more tricks that start with a telephone call that can steal your money. Don't be embarrassed to call the Cambridge Consumers' Council at 349-6150 for advice or help.

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