The anti-scam

THE JUNGLE of con artists and scammers out there could be disheartneing, but for the true anti-scammers - those groups and companies working to provide real help to people. For years, the Campaign For Working Families has been at the top of that good list; it has made it part of its mission not only to provide free tax preparation for Philadelphia working families, but to make sure those eligible take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The EITC program could well be considered the grandfather of stimulus programs; it puts cash into the pockets of qualified families - up to $4,824 this year, depending on income level - and helps all of us by releasing a lot of that money into the city's economy.

Each year, GPUAC breaks its own records in terms of the people it helps - to say nothing of the volunteers it recruits.

For more information on free tax preparation and EITC, call 215-686-2599 or go to www.phillyfreetaxes.org. *