And if you thought you hated telemarketers before...

Here’s another reason to be wary: Crooked telemarketers are using an obscure financial instrument known as a demand draft or remotely created check to steal money from unwary consumers’ checking accounts. This article on the Daily Dollar, a Consumers Union blog on money issues, explains how the scam works.

How can you protect yourself, aside from never answering the phone? The Daily Dollar offers this advice: “[R]ead your bank statements carefully and report and dispute any error, no matter how small. Thieves sometimes put through a small charge first, and if that works, try again with a larger charge, or put the same charge through to your account every month. If you aren’t happy with how your bank responds, file a complaint at: www.helpwithmybank.gov."

For more information on where to complain, depending on where you bank, click here.