User:Allen.wen31/sandbox

Telemarketing Fraud is fraudulent selling conducted over the telephone; the term is also used for telephone fraud not involving selling as such.Everyone could be a possible mark. Fraud isn't limited to race, ethnic back­ground, gender, age, education, or income. That said, some scams seem to concentrate in certain groups. For example, older people may be targeted because the caller assumes they may live alone, have a nest egg, or may be more polite toward strangers. Furthermore, if an individual send money to people they do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers or sign up random application forms the chance of them becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud is increasing.

Signs of telemarketing fraud
 * “You must act ‘now’ or the offer won’t be good.”
 * “You’ve won a ‘free’ gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.
 * “You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.
 * “You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.
 * “You don’t need any written information about their company or their references.”
 * “You can’t afford to miss this ‘high-profit, no-risk’ offer.”

What to do when they call?

There are certain questions an individual can ask himself or herself to identify the intent of a telemarketer’s phone call which can also be used to determine whether the call was fraudulent.


 * If the product that they are advertising is free, ask yourself, why is the telemarketer asking you to pay for a service? Never disclose personal information such as your location, credit card number, age, ethnicity or any details that will reveal your identity. Telemarketers are trained to use this information to persuade you that you are in need of their product or services.
 * By law, telemarketers are required to disclose who they are, what company they work for and explain that they are calling for the purpose of sales. If you do not hear this information at the beginning of the phone call, you are vulnerable to sales fraud and are advised to say “no thank you” and hang up the phone immediately..
 * By law, telemarketers are required to disclose who they are, what company they work for and explain that they are calling for the purpose of sales. If you do not hear this information at the beginning of the phone call, you are vulnerable to sales fraud and are advised to say “no thank you” and hang up the phone immediately..


 * Pay close attention to the delivery of the telemarketer’s sales pitch. Those who speak at a fast pace, mumble or change the topic when you ask them a question are using a sales tactic which is intended to confuse and put the customer in a high pressure situation. More often than not, this is done because the telemarketer is trying to meet their quota and do not have any intention of selling a quality product or service. There is a strong possibility that they are hiding an important fact that can be used to take advantage of the customer. Speak to the seller in a slow and deliberate manner to ensure that they provide clear and detailed information. Businesses that value their customers will provide written information about their product and encourage buyers to consider all aspects of the deal before making the decision to purchase.


 * Take note of the time when a telemarketer is calling. By law, they are only allowed to call between the hours of 8AM and 9PM. If the phone call is made outside of these hours, then you are advised to record the number from which they are calling and if possible, the conversation itself so you can provide the authorities with evidence of fraudulent activity.


 * To make their offers sound appealing, telemarketers often propose a “free gift” with the purchase of their product or services. Customers can avoid the temptation by realizing that gift offers, which are a physical product of the company and intended to make the deal sound attractive, are usually charged with a shipping tax and is an expense rather than a kind gesture from the telemarketer.