A current telemarketing scam involves a caller who claims to represent a company that has recently held a sweepstakes. The caller informs the person who answers the phone that he or she has won a prize of some value. It might be a car or a washing machine, but it will always be something that most people would accept with little thought. The caller then explains that there will be some costs associated with delivering the prize to the winner, such as shipping charges and taxes. These charges, the caller explains, can be paid for with a credit card. Then the caller asks the victim for personal information, including a credit card number.
Of course, there is no prize and there are no fees. Once the caller has the victim's credit card number and other personal information, he or she can then use this information to spend like crazy using the victim's credit card. Or they can arrange some more elaborate crimes using identity theft. Either way, the victim will find themselves with a very complicated situation that may take years to unravel.
Should anyone call you to tell you that you have won something, be careful. Ask if they can provide the information in writing. Be aware that in most states, it is illegal to ask for fees from someone who has actually one a prize. If it is a prize, then it should be free, and that includes delivery. If you are at all suspicious of the person on the phone, then hang up. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
How to Avoid Telemarketing Scams How to Avoid Telemarketing Scams Offers of amazing investments and too-good-to-be-true offers are warning signs of telephone fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, telemarketing fraud now costs Americans at least $40 billion a year. Some of the most common scams include: Prize offers: The National Fraud Information Center lists prize or sweepstakes offers as the number one telemarketing scam. Usually you have to do something to get your free prize, such as buy products you dont really want or give your credit card number, just for verification. Cross-border telephone calls: You receiv ..
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©Copyright 2005-06 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.homeequityhelp.net, a site devoted to information regarding home equity lending.
3 Lessons from Telemarketing that you can apply to your Online Business
3 Lessons from Telemarketing that you can apply to your Online Business
(c) 2003 Pencil Dude
I was only 18 when I took my first telemarketing job, it wasn t my first experience in sales nor was it my last, (I m working the web these days) but the lessons I learnt during my time as a telemarketer has enabled me to both persevere and enjoy sales and marketing.
Lesson #1: Selling is a Numbers Game The more people you contact, the more sales you make.
It s a fact -- regardless of what you re selling, the more people you present the product to the more likely you re going to make a sale ..
Charles EssmeierTelemarketing Fraud is Making a Comeback
