So are there any actual cheats for Mafia Wars you ask?  Well, that depends on how you define the word 'cheat'.  To be more specific, there are no 'cheat codes' for Mafia Wars.  The game simply wasn't designed to allow the use of cheat codes.  There also is no was to 'hack' into the game system and edit the settings.  So if you have been trying to do either of those, stop wasting your time right now!

However, some players of Mafia Wars still consider some things as 'cheat' even though they don't fit the true definition of cheating.  The cheats that players refer to are more like well thought-out strategies.  These strategies work so well that they are nearly as good as cheating at the game, except for the fact that it is perfectly allowed to use these strategies!

Now, I don't want to go into the really detailed and complex strategies just yet, so let's start off with the basics....

So here are the most basic but most important strategies to always follow in Mafia Wars.

1. Play the 'Maniac' class. The "Maniac" replenishes his energy faster than any other class in Mafia Wars. But why is this important? Well, energy is what you need to complete missions and do jobs. If you don't have energy, you literally can't do anything. So now you know that energy is necessary to have in Mafia Wars, and the faster you can get it the better, period.

2. Avoid the hit-list at all cost. I know, I know, you want to make a lot of money by defeating other players and stealing everything they have on them. Sure it's fun, but only when you are the victor. If you are under-powered when compared to your enemies, you will wind up getting killed relentlessly, making it nearly impossible to continue leveling with that character. So do yourself a favor and ignore the hit-list for a while until you get to the higher levels and are more suited for the job.

3. Choose missions with the lowest energy requirements and the highest payoffs. So if 2 missions require the same amount of energy, then choose the one which will yield more money. Always go for the missions with the lowest energy requirement though. Remember, you absolutely have to have energy.

Those tips should get you off to a great start. Maybe you know them, or a few of them. No worries, more complex tips and playing strategies will be added here in a short time.

If you'd like to find out more on these complex playing strategies to really move you through the game, check out this Squidoo Lens on Facebook Mafia Wars Tips.

Some players keep all or most of their money on their characters themselves.  Their reasoning is due to the 10 percent fee that is charged if you store money at a bank in Mafia Wars.  However, you need to keep in mind that if you are defeated by another player, who could end up running off with every single penny of yours, leaving you completely broke.  At that point you'd be telling yourself that the 10 percent fee is worth it, and you'd be absolutely correct!

If you have several billion dollars, then 10 percent is a pretty penny to pay for storing your cash safely.  But with everything, there is a price you have to pay, and in this case you are paying for a form of insurance.  There will be times that you'll get defeated by another players, so it is a really smart move to store your money in a bank.