How to be aware of scams

OK, so I have blonde hair and I may appear gullible, but when it comes to money, I'm no fool. I recently spent six hours at a car dealership wheeling and dealing for a beautiful gold Toyota Camry. If you feel like a good laugh, go to your nearest dealership and act interested in a car. They'll treat you like a king and offer to take you out to Malibu Grill if they think you're good for profit. \nHere are 10 things every college kid should know when dealing with scamming car dealers like my buddy Bob (Why is it that every car guy's name seems to be Bob, Joe or Dave, anyway?). \n1. Bring someone with you. I was lucky -- I chose to bring a very important tool with me: my father. My dad knows the business world quite well, and he wasn't about to get scammed. \n2. Always thoroughly inspect the outside of a car before you even agree to test drive it. If there's even one paint chip, call it out and step away from the vehicle. If they don't offer to fix it, don't offer to buy it. If you do test drive, ask your Bob if you can take the car on your own route. Make sure the route includes railroad tracks and bumpy roads. Don't be afraid to accelerate. It's especially fun to scare Bob. \n3. Don't agree to pay Bob's initial offer. If you do, you will become a victim of the vicious car dealer game. And you might as well leave your dignity at the dealership when you drive your overpriced vehicle away. Chances are if you pay his price, Bob will be laughing hysterically when you walk out the door.\n4. Don't believe a word that Bob, your new "friend," says. He has the art of scamming down to a science, and he'll use and abuse you. Ask Bob to write everything down so you can see it in front of you and use the paper when he changes his mind. \n5. Become the dealer. This is your money -- you make the deal. Make an offer reasonably lower than Bob's. If the boss doesn't accept your offer, stand up and start sprinting toward the door. Make it your game and don't become the victim. My father subtracted over $2000 off Bob's offer. And before we walked out the door, the owner came out and agreed to my dad's offer including an additional bumper to bumper warranty.\n6. Remember no matter how cozy Bob's office becomes, you don't have to do business with him. Bob works almost entirely on commission. He'll bend over backward to get your money. Make Bob earn your respect. Don't waste a New York minute trying to earn his.\n7. Don't be afraid to cop an attitude. This will make Bob work even harder to please you. Heck, he may even offer to buy the car for you by the time you're done with him.\n8. Don't sign anything you haven't read. By signing your name, you may be selling your soul to the car dealership and Bob, the devil behind it all. \n9. Don't let Bob stall. He's buying your time so you'll get tired and delirious and agree to do anything he asks you. Don't be surprised if Bob gets out a magic Harry Potter wand and attempts to hypnotize you. \n10. Know your financial limit and make sure you add tax to all offers. In fact, have Bob do it for you to see if he even has any math skills. Five cents a dollar may not seem like a lot, but multiply that by $10,000. Tax + car=bad financial debt.