Telemarketing Fraud: It’s a Crime

Telemarketing Fraud:It’s a Crime University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs

Telemarketing Scams

Prize Offers and Promotional Sales • Con artists require payment for you to receive a prize. • Prizes are worthless or overpriced. • In Georgia, it is illegal to require someone to make a purchase to receive a prize.

International Lotteries • The caller invites you to participate in high-stakes foreign lotteries • U.S. Consumers spend $120 million per year on these international lotteries • Federal law prohibits the cross-border sale or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail

Charitable Solicitations • Con artists use the name of a charity (or a similar name) to obtain a donation • Paid solicitors raising money for a charity in Georgia must identify themselves as paid solicitors at the beginning of the call • Georgia law prohibits a charity from sending a courier to a residence to pick up a cash donation

Disaster-related Solicitations • Con artists take advantage of tragedies and disasters to solicit contributions • They play on your emotions to donate to victims of the tragedy or disaster

Magazine Sales • “Discount rates” may be more costly than news stand prices • Subscriptions may be “negative option renewals”, meaning your credit card will be charged for renewals until you contact the company to cancel

Investments • Con artists promise large returns for fraudulent investments • They may tell you they have “inside information” or that this is a “one-time” offer • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is • Investigate before you invest

Travel Packages • Free or low-cost vacations that end up costing more than you were led to believe • You may pay for a vacation you never receive • You may be required to sit through high-pressure sales presentations

Credit Card Offers • Often require an “advanced fee” • May only be able to use the card to purchase over-priced items from a special catalog • Most companies offer credit cards at not cost other than the interest on purchases

Health Products • Miracle cures and supplements that are often of little value and may even be harmful • Sometimes offer prizes to entice you to buy

Credit Card Loss Protection Plans • Claim to protect you from liability due to fraudulent use of your credit cards • Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized charges to $50 per card

Recovery Scams • Con artists target victims of other frauds • Promise to recover losses for a fee • Law enforcement agencies NEVER ask victims to pay for investigations or to recover losses

Telephone Cramming and Slamming - Cramming: charges on your phone bill for services not requested or used. - Slamming: unauthorized switch of your long distance carrier. - Avoid slamming by requesting a “PIC freeze” from your local telephone provider.

Before You Send Money to a Telemarketer: • Check references • Contact your local Better Business Bureau • Contact the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs • Contact the Secretary of State’s Office regarding non-religious charities

Before You Send Money to a Telemarketer: • Request that written information about the company be mailed to you. • Ask for an address and telephone number for the caller.

Warning SignsThe Caller: • Requires an immediate decision • Tells you the offer is good for today only • Gets hostile when you ask questions • Encourages you not to tell anyone • Requests immediate payment

How Callers Get Your Name • Filling out and returning junk mail • Registering for prizes and sweepstakes • Warranty cards • From lists sold by others

Limiting Access • Sign up for the Georgia No Call List • Notify companies you do business with that you do not want information about you sold to others • Call (888) I OPT OUT to stop credit card offers

Telemarketing Fraud: It’s a Crime