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 Signs The 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