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These days, most of us are aware of the dangers of criminals using spam emails or fake websites to commit fraud or steal our identity. It seems as if we hear about a new version of one of these scams nearly every week.
What we don’t hear much about are criminals using the telephone to commit their crimes. Is this because they stopped their criminal activity? Hardly. In fact, telemarketing fraud remains a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. Each year, thousands lose as little as a few dollars to as much as their life savings to telephone con artists.
For the criminals, using the telephone to commit their crimes may not be as high-tech and flashy as internet fraud (one of the reasons the media doesn’t cover it like they used to), but over the phone, they can use tried and true scam techniques; tested over decades of use. In many ways, telephone is easier and cheaper for the criminals – it will not be going away anytime soon.
That’s why RBCU would like to offer the following list of tips to help protect you from telephone criminals. Some of our members have been victims of telephone scams and some have successfully recognized the scam before they lost any of their money. We ask that you keep this information near your telephone. It can help you determine if you're talking with a legitimate telemarketer or a scam artist.
- Don't give your credit card, checking account or Social Security number to unknown callers.
- Don't be pressured to make an immediate decision.
- Be cautious of statements that you've won a prize — particularly if the caller says you must send money to claim it.
- Don't agree to any offer where you have to pay a registration or shipping fee to receive a "prize."
- Check out unsolicited offers with the Better Business Bureau, local consumer protection agency, or state Attorney General's office before you agree to send money.
- Don't pay for something merely because you'll get a "free gift."
There are federal and state laws in place to combat telemarketing fraud. If you feel you’ve been the target of a telephone scam or now realize that you are a victim of fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. |
