Every now and then everyone receives unwanted phone calls from telemarketers. Telemarketing companies are coming up with different tricks to con people. The telemarketers primarily target the elderly and other individuals who have applied to fake sweepstakes or other known scams. It is important to be aware of different scams that come from telemarketers.
Sweetheart Scams The sweetheart scam happens when you get contacted from a telemarketer from overseas, who has seen some of your personal information you put on social media. This "sweetheart" uses phone and email conversations to create a friendship that will eventually bloom into a romance. Once you have been smitten by the telemarketer, they tell you that they're in prison or at the hospital and they want you to wire some money to them. Guaranteed Grants When a guaranteed grant from the government scam happens, telemarketers will call you and tell you that you are qualified for a free guaranteed grant because of your age, where you live or your employment status. A Telemarketer will ask you a few questions such as do you have a criminal record? After you answer all of the questions, they will ask for your bank account information to deposit the grant into your account. In reality, they will never deposit your information. People that fall for this scam often lose several hundred dollars. Money Mule Scam This is a very common scam. You are told that you can get money by providing overseas money services. The telemarketer says If you sign up you will receive cash and wires across America. Your job would be to forward the funds internationally using a wire transfer, and you get %10 percent commission. The truth is you are taking money from the elderly fraud victims, and you will be wiring cash to the scammers. As recommended by the AG never give out personal information over the phone. Secret Shopper Job There is such a thing as being a secret shopper, but telemarketers will call you and invite you to become a secret shopper. You will be given instructions on how to test the MoneyGram transfer and you will get a check for seven thousand dollars. They will ask you to deposit the seven thousand dollar check into your account and fill out a questionnaire. The scam comes after you make a deposit. Your bank will say that your check has bounced and your account will show the amount you owe. Dealing with phone scams can be really annoying and may disrupt your day. The key to dealing with telemarketers is to not pick up your phone for unknown numbers. Never give out personal information over the phone and always be aware of who you are talking to. Being mindful of telemarketing scams and tricks can help you deal with those unwanted phone calls. Comments are closed.
|