In recognition of October as National Crime Prevention Month, the Yolo County District AttorneyÕs Office is providing weekly crime prevention tips. In addition, the office is organizing a Health and Safety Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.

The Consumer and Environmental Fraud unit recommends the following tips to help keep you safe:

* Read the labels. Are you really getting the amount of product in the container as it appears? Sometimes the containers are deliberately made larger than necessary to fool you into thinking it contains more product.

* Watch that cash register screen. Make sure that scanner price is same as the item price from the shelves. Often, consumers get busy writing checks or chatting with the checker and miss these overcharges.

* DonÕt answer the door unless you know the person in front of you. Cities have different requirements for door-to-door sales and service offers. Many require a business license and permit, which you should check closely. If you are unsure or the person arrives uninvited, donÕt open the door.

* Get it in writing. Make sure all terms of your agreement are clearly spelled out. Make sure you have the name and contact information for the salesperson and company. Research the company on the Internet for history of complaints and check with the Better Business Bureau before signing a contract.

* Watch out for real estate fraud. If you are considering a loan modification, be alert for programs that require up-front fees as these may be illegal. Information is available at the California Department of Real Estate, http://www.dre.ca.gov, and at the federal governmentÕs housing website, http://www.hud.gov.

For more information, call the District AttorneyÕs Office at (530) 666-8180.

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