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Telephone Scams and the Telemarketing Sales Rule
Telephone Scams and the Telemarketing Sales Rule
BEWARE OF TELEPHONE SCAMS!
FTC CONSUMER FACTS:
Tip-Offs to Telephone Rip-Offs
Fraudulent telemarketers often use phrases like:
... "You've been specially selected to hear this offer."
... "You'll get a wonderful free bonus if you buy our product."
... "You've won one of five valuable prizes."
... "You've won big money in a foreign lottery."
... "You must send money right away."
... "This investment is low risk and provides a higher return than you can get anywhere else."
... "You have to make up your mind right away."
... "We'll just put the shipping and handling charges on your credit card."
Have a suspicious number?
Try a reverse phone lookup now!
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TIDBIT:
The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home.
Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the Do Not Call Registry for 31 days.
If they do, you can file a complaint at http://www.DoNotCall.gov.
You can register your home or mobile phone for free.
To register your phone, call the National
DO NOT CALL Registry at 1-888-382-1222 from the
phone you wish to register (home or mobile). This should only take a minute of your time.
For more information or to register online please visit
http://www.DoNotCall.gov
More Info
For the Consumer from the Federal Trade Commission:
- The Truth about Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry
- FTC Consumer Alert: Q&A : The National Do Not Call Registry
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The Telemarketing Sales Rule
...
The FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule requires certain disclosures and prohibits misrepresentations.
It gives you the power to stop unwanted telemarketing calls and gives state law enforcement officers
the authority to prosecute fraudulent telemarketers who operate across state lines.
It's against the law for telemarketers to call you before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
Play smart defense! ...
In addition to knowing about the Telemarketing Sales Rule, it's a good idea to keep the following tips in mind whenever you hear a phone solicitation:
* Don't be pressured to make an immediate decision.
* Don't give your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number to unknown callers.
* Don't buy something merely because you'll get a "free gift."
* 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."
* Get all information in writing before you agree to buy.
* Check out a charity before you give. Ask how much of your donation actually goes to the charity. Ask that written information be sent to you so you can make an informed giving decision.
* Don't invest your money with an unknown caller who insists you make up your mind immediately.
* If the offer is an investment, check with your state securities regulator to see if it's properly registered.
* Don't send cash by messenger or overnight mail. If you use cash rather than a credit card in the transaction, you may lose your right to dispute fraudulent charges.
* Make sure you know the per minute charge for any 900 number call you make.
* 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.
* Beware of offers to "help" you recover money you may have lost previously. Be wary of callers saying they are law enforcement officers who will help you get your money back "for a fee."
Report a Scam.
Help fight telephone fraud. Report telephone scam artists to the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) and your state Attorney General. The Telemarketing
Sales Rule gives these local law enforcement officers the power to
prosecute fraudulent telemarketers who operate across state lines.
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 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.
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