How to Avoid Telemarketing Scams
Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:30AM EDT
See Comments (34)
You're on the Do Not Call list, you've got Caller ID, but still some telemarketer calls sneak through. The extra rings of the phone right at the end-of-the-day crunch time can be annoying enough, but if one of the kids (or you) happen to answer the phone, here are some tips from Fraud.org via The Consumerist on how to determine which ones are scams.
First, any message or live person who promises that you can win money or borrow money easily deserves a simple, "No thank you. Goodbye."
The other red flags include if the caller...
• Demands that you act immediately or you will miss out on an amazing opportunity
• Refuses to send written information before you buy or donate
• Attempts to scare you into buying something
Check out the rest of the tips, which include advice directed to seniors, who are often targeted by telemarketing scammers because they have time to talk and money to give.
Chris Null passes along some more advice on how to be persistent in getting off telemarketers' call lists. For more tips, check out the National Do Not Call Registry and get your phone numbers listed if you haven't already.
LINK: 6 Signs of Telemarketing Fraud [The Consumerist]
Five Steps to Help Seniors Targeted by Telemarketing Fraud [Fraud.org]
Related: Shut Up Telemarketers for Good
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Comments on How to Avoid Telemarketing Scams
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2 Posted by jlaltmann@sbcglobal.net on Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:57PM EDT Report Abuse
If you have caller ID, get the caller ID manager from privacy corps, it can be programmed to block or accept calls from up to 175 different numbers.
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3 Posted by magrogga on Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse
For those that do not recognize the number on the Caller ID display, DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!!! DUH!!! If it really is an important phone call, he/she will leave a message, and if you recognize the voice, simply pick it up and say, "Hello, sorry, I was in the other room." You don't need a college degree to figure that one out. der der der... :P
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4 Posted by coloradovet2 on Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse
Maybe something can be done to address those phone/cable companies that sale our phone numbers for a price. I feel that legislation needs to be inacted to prevent them from making profit on our grief. Rememdy, if caught selling our numbers, their fines would be double of the price they paid for them. Hey, Just my opinion. TJ
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5 Posted by luluford@sbcglobal.net on Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:55PM EDT Report Abuse
If you happen to get a call, interrupt and keep asking questions, they usually get thrown off and eventually hang up when thrown off their script. One person I says do I know you...good, let's keep it that way. Have fun or just hang up.
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1 Posted by wjbishop100 on Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:30AM EDT Report Abuse
The best way to avoid telemarketer scams is don't, under ANY circumstances ever buy anything offered to you over the phone by a telemarketer. You can usually get a better deal then the "legitimate" telemarketers by shopping around your local area or reputable retail sites on the internet anyway.