The con is on: ‘Real Hustle’ shows how easy it is to be fleeced

I know its slogan is that it’s not reality, its actuality, but the former Court TV channel has an interesting show with new episodes coming up next week that may open some eyes. We’ve all heard of check scams, phone scams and people stealing your identity, but I wasn’t aware how easy it is or how gullible some people are until I saw a clip from “The Real Hustle.”

The show puts a trio of con artists on the streets to show viewers how easy it is to dupe people at various scams. After reading about a few episodes, there are a few habits I think I’m going to change. If these three really can pull off stealing a woman’s belongings from her hotel room while she’s still in it and steal credit card numbers from paying restaurant customers, there’s got to be something wrong with this world.

There are ways to protect yourself. And as a public service, TruTV has provided a list of 10 tips on its Web site. Some of them are just common sense, such as shredding personal documents to destroy account numbers, but others go a little deeper.

Check out two new episodes starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, and don’t forget to visit www.trutv.com to learn what you can do to protect yourself by clicking on 10 Tips to Avoid Getting Fleeced.

There’s also some big local news that could earn you a trip to Hollywood to show off your stuff. WABI TV5 announced this week an online national talent competition that gives one person, every day for 13 weeks, a chance at fame.

Starting Jan. 28, participants can apply for “Big Shot Live” by uploading a video audition of their talent to www.wabi.tv.

Those selected will be flown to Hollywood to continue the audition process in front of a powerbroker for the entertainment industry for a chance to land a variety of opportunities, such as a guest role on a TV show or in a movie, the chance to model in a commercial, or as a dancer in a music video.

If you’re at least 13 years old, visit WABI’s Web site to see if your talent fits into any of the seven talent categories. Winners will be announced daily beginning Feb. 4.

Let us know if your video makes it on the site, because you’ll have a week to gather friends, family and strangers to vote for you.