Telemarketing: The Unnecessary Evil

As long as you own a phone, you can be a target for telemarketers.

We've all had those calls come in right as we sit down to dinner or step into the bath. They always seem to interrupt one of our routines with bothersome "special offers," saying "you've been selected" or "this will just take a minute of your time." What we don't all know, and yet should, is that those calls can be much more than just annoying. According to government estimates, illegal telemarketing operations bilk Americans out of $40 billion annually, and there are 14,000 illegal telephone sales operations at work every day.

Many of these telemarketing scams sound so realistic, happen so quickly, and bankrupt so many. Often, they close up shop and, days later, are running the same old scheme with a new name - in a new town. Here's your chance to learn some of the more common scams, how to spot them, and what it will take to reclaim your phone! (Or, you can choose a less militant approach and learn how to avoid this mess altogether.)

Spotting a Scam

It's 7:00 a.m., you're rushing to get ready for work: feed yourself, dress yourself, get the garbage out, grab the dry cleaning, find the car keys, feed the dog, and, in the middle of this chaos, the phone rings. If you pick up, and the much-too-cheery-for-this-hour-of-the-morning voice that greets you belongs to a telemarketer, you should hang up immediately. Why? Because the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule sets certain guidelines that telemarketers must follow. When you know these guidelines, you have a better chance of recognizing a bogus offer, thereby protecting your money, and your sanity.

Telemarketers are never supposed to call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Remember, the phone is there for your convenience, not theirs. Telemarketers are never allowed to intimidate or threaten you.

The salesperson should immediately tell you the name of their company and purpose of their call. They are not allowed to pretend to be conducting surveys or market research. If a prize is offered, they must explain that no purchase or payment is necessary to win, the odds of winning, and any restrictions or conditions on receiving the prize. Also, be wary if the company has a name that is intended to sound like a well-known government agency or company! These people assume you aren't paying close attention.

If you have "already won", you cannot be asked to pay anything to claim your prize. Even shipping charges. The prize promotion ploy is especially popular among crooks. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true…you know the rest.

You can't be required to pay in advance for certain "services," such as wiping damaging credit information off your credit report, finding you a loan, or recovering a prize or money from someone who already scammed you.

Federal law requires telemarketers to maintain "do not call" lists, and actually not to call people who request to be placed on these lists. See the FTC consumer article Where to Go to Just Say No for information on getting off the direct marketing lists. Keep track of the companies you've requested not to call you. If they call again, phone your Attorney General and raise a little havoc.

What's the biggest tip-off that you might be listening to a dishonest sales pitch? High-pressure sales tactics. They want your money up front, they want your credit card number or bank account number, and they want it now. Take your time to make a decision and don't let anybody (or any voice) push you around.

Some Common Scams

Prize offers: Do something (buy products or give your credit card number for "verification") and receive a "free" prize.

Bank Inspectors: You get a call from someone claiming to be a bank representative. They ask you to withdraw some money and give it to the representative to help catch a dishonest bank employee. You will probably never see this money again.

Cross-Border phone calls: You get a message telling you to call an unfamiliar area code. You may be asked to call regarding an overdue account or even a sick relative (these people have no shame). What you will probably get instead is excessive charges to pay-per-call services in the Caribbean or Canada.

Travel Packages: "Great" deals with outrageous hidden costs. (Charging exorbitant amounts for your second ticket or simply never producing the trip are both very popular schemes.)

Investments: Get Rich Quick! These are fraudulent business opportunities. You will never see the "big return on your investment."

Recovery Ploys: If you've already lost money in a scam, there's a chance you could be contacted by another crook promising to recover your lost funds.

Magazine Subscription Scams: You pre-purchase magazines that never arrive, and you never get the refund you eventually request.

Fake Charities: You get a call requesting a donation for some worthy cause, but in effect you're shoving your money into a scam artist's pockets. Remember, simply having the words "police" or "firefighter" in the title doesn't make an organization legitimate. Ask for information in writing, and make sure you know how your contribution will be used. See the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation list of common fraud schemes.

Avoiding The Problem

This approach isn't just for those of us who have trouble saying "no" to the persuasive voice of telemarketing; it's also for anybody who's simply fed up with the hassle of constant calls and overzealous salespeople. So, here are a few methods to put an end to dealing with telemarketers for good:

Caller ID: Shows the number of the person calling. Telemarketers generally show up as "unavailable" so you can choose not to answer the phone.
Anonymous Call Rejection: Your phone won't even ring if someone with an "unavailable" number calls. The caller will automatically hear a message saying your number does not accept anonymous calls, and they will have to unblock their number by dialing a simple code, and call back. Most telemarketers can't unblock their numbers, so they won't be able to get through.
Recorded Messages: Some companies sell devices that hook up to your phone which, when you press a button, launch into a recorded message explaining that you do not accept telemarketing calls and wish to be taken off their list. (The devices can get pretty expensive however; so, if you choose to go this route, make sure you shop around.)

Summary of Tips

Be skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers.
Resist pressure to make an immediate decision and ask for written follow-up information that will explain the offer.
Don't ever pay more than the price of a postage stamp when notified about "winning" a sweepstakes or prize.
Never provide account numbers to unfamiliar companies.
Check out an unfamiliar company with the Better Business Bureau, National Fraud Information Center, or the consumer protection organization in your state.

Contact Information

If you feel you've had a close encounter with a telemarketing scam, contact one of the following organizations:

National Fraud Information Center
1-800-876-7060
www.fraud.org

The Council of Better Business Bureaus
703-276-0100
www.bbb.org

Federal Trade Commission
6th and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
202-276-2222 www.ftc.gov

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