Tip-Offs To Rip-Offs UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Losing your life’s savings could be only a phone call away. To avoid becoming a telephone scam victim, it’s important to leam the familiar statements and tactics used by con artists, said a consumer scientist in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. Not listening or responding to offers that “sound too good to be true” is the first defense to avoid becoming a scam victim, said Cathy Bowen, assistant professor of agricultural and extension ed ucation. “Tell callers to put you on their “do-not-calT list,” she said. “If they call again, report them to the Pennsylvania Attor ney General’s Office at (800) 441-2555.” Bowen also suggests not re sponding to offers that you get in the mail for free products or services. “This is a method often used to identify potential vic tims.” If telemarketers use any of the following statements or tactics, Bowen said that they are proba bly illegal. If a caller uses one of them, hang up the phone. • “You have to act “now’ or the offer won’t be good.” Stan Your Own Tradition Of Oulslandtno Pertiimiatia*. \m\ Heres a sleek-lookmg 70 PTO hp tractor with a rich tradition of reliability and innovation behind it The AGCO Allis 8745 traces its origins to the legendary Allis Chalmers, a name that goes back nearly 100 years. Combine our enviable history with sophisticated design and technology, and you’ll find plenty of reasons to count on the 8745 for many years to come. • AGCO Allis 400 series 4-cylinder turbocharged, liquid-cooled diesel engine • Standard 12x4 synchro transmission or optional 12x12 shuttle • Foldable 2-post POPS platform or roomy climate-controlled cab Come in for a test drive, details on our unbeatable 4-year, 4,000-hour warranty and a closer look at the AGCO Allis 8745. That’s your key to history-making performance. MANOR MOTORS On Rte. 553 Penn Run, Pa. 724-254-4753 HERNLEY’S FARM EQUIP., INC. Elizabethtown, Pa. 717-367-8867 • “You cannot afford to miss this “high-profit, no-risk’ offer.” • “You have won a “free’ gift, a vacation or a prize and you pay only for postage and han dling or other charges.” • You must give a credit card or bank account number, send money or have a check picked up by a courier very soon. • You are discouraged from checking out the company with anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency. • You are not given any writ ten information about the com pany or any references. • You are made to feel that you are getting special treatment. “Consumers over the age of 60 often are approached by con art ists,” Bowen said. “Older women living along are considered easy targets.” Bowen offers the following tips to older consumers: • Don’t buy anything by phone from unfamiliar compa nies. • Always take your time mak ing a decision. • Never send money or give your credit card or bank account NICHOLS FARM EQUIP. Bloomsburg, Pa. 570-784-7731 B.H.M. FARM EQUIP. INC. Annville, Pa. 717-867-2211 B. EQUIP., INC. Waynesboro, Pa, 717-762-3193 ■UILOfMO ON TKADITIOH • A choice of 2WD or AWD with a front wheel steering angle as light as 55° on AWD models • Independent PTO with 540 and 1000 rpm capability • Open center hydraulic system • Electronic 3-point hitch with Automatic Transport Control GRUMELLI HOLTRY’S FARM SERVICE EQUIPMENT Quarryville, Pa. 717-786-7318 WERTZ FARM & POWER EQUIPMENT, INC. PA Rt. 516, Glen Rock, Pa. 717-235-0111 number to unfamiliar companies. Before becoming involved with a company, Bowen recommends checking its status by contacting the Better Bureau in the state where the business is located. If you can’t get satisfactory action from a sweepstakes or prize promoter after partici pating, contact your local post master or one of the following organizations: • Direct Marketing Associa tion Inc., Sweepstakes Help Line, 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20036-3603, e-mail: sweepsta kes@the-dma.org. • Pennsylvania State Attor ney General’s Office Consum er Protection Hotline, 1-800-441-2555, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon.-Fri. • Call for Action, 5272 River Road, Suite 300, Bethe sda, MD 20816, 301-657-8260, www.callforaction.org. • National Fraud Informa tion Center, 800-876-7060 • Know Fraud, P.O. Box 45600, Washington, D.C. 20026-5600, 877-987-3728, www.consumer.gov/ knowfraud. Roxbury, Pa. 717-532-7261 C.J. WONSIDLER BROS. Quakertown, Pa. 215-536-7523 New Tripoli, Pa. 215-767-7611 Oley, Pa. 215-987-6257 11-ounce can Mandarin oranges, drained, cut in half Dissolve Jell-0 in water, stir in sour cream until smooth. Mix in sherbert until melted. Chill until partially set. Fold in oranges. Note: sometimes Debbie adds marshmallows for vari ety. Thanks to Sharon Bieimyer, Holtwood, for sending many make-ahead recipes. The desserts can be made ahead and frozen. Cookie bars taste Just as good frozen as thawed, she writes. More of her recipes will appear in next week’s edition. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Squares IVa cups powdered sugar IV2 cups creamy peanut butter 1 Vz teaspoons vanilla 18-ounce package Pillsbury Refrigerated Chocolate Chip cookie dough Heat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla. Mix well. Remove cookie dough from wrapper. With floured fin gers, press half of dough in bottom of ungreased 8- or 9-inch square pan. Press peanut butter mixture evenly over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of cookie dough over peanut butter mixture. Carefully spread as evenly as possible. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refriger ate one hour or until chilled. Cut into bars. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Makes 12 bars. Sharon writes that she doubles this recipe and uses one package of chocolate chip cookie dough and one package of white chunk cookie dough. She uses one package for the bottom layer and the other for the top layer. Sharon writes that this recipe is a big hit with kids and kids at heart. When finished, the cookies resemble little hamburgers. These can be frozen. Because there is no baking involved, these cookies are quick to put together. It’s a fun thing to make with kids and a nice treat for school and birthday parties. Hamburger Cookies 2 tablespoons vanilla frosting 12 vanilla wafers 2 tablespoons green-tinted coconut 6 chocolate-covered round mint cookies Warmed honey Sesame seed For each hamburger cookie, spread a half teaspoon frosting on flat side of one vanilla wafer. Place one tea spoon coconut and one mint cookie on frosting. Spread flat side of second vanilla wafer with Vfe teaspoon frost ing. Place frosting side down on mint cookie. Brust top of “hamburger” with honey. Sprinkle with sesame seed. Repeat to make five more cookies. Makes 6 cookies. To make more cookies, simply repeat procedure with additional ingredients. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 8, 2000-B9 (Continued from Page B 8) Cooks Question Comer