Some sayings can’t be repeated often enough.

If it sounds too good to be true, for instance, it probably is too good to be true.

But desperate times and a lingering bad economy can sometimes serve as blinders, according to John Smith, a consumer complaint analyst from the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

“The way the economy is right now, people jump at the chance to make money,” he said. And that desire plays directly into the hands of scam artists.

Smith, who visited the Cherokee County Public Library on Thursday to meet with area residents and handle consumer complaints, said certain scams continue to target South Carolina residents, many of whom have been impacted by the downturn in the economy.

The predominant scams at the moment involve cashier’s checks and fake car warranties.

In scams involving fake cashier’s checks, victims are sent a cashier’s check under any number of pretenses, such as that they’ve won a foreign lottery, and are given instructions to immediately wire back a certain amount of money to cover fees or taxes.

The checks are always fake, however, and the victims simply end up giving away their own money.

The scams typically are run out of foreign countries, like Canada. Smith said he’s seen several that are being run out of Great Britain, India and even Jamaica. Regardless of where they originate, U.S. laws often don’t apply there and once the money is wired it‘s basically gone.

“A lot of the scammers, if you put pressure on them, they close up shop only to move to another city or region and reopen,” Smith said. The scam artists don’t need a lot equipment to pull it off, either.

Anyone with questions about an offer can call the Department of Consumer Affairs at (803) 734-4200 or check out the department’s Web site.

Due to recent South Carolina state budget cuts, the DCA no longer has a representative permanently posted in Cherokee County. However, Smith said the DCA will be making visits to Cherokee County, such as Thursday’s, on at least a quarterly basis.