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Compugasm · Feb 19, 2008, 02:49 pm

So today I get an automated phone message. Their pitch was "You may be paying double what you should in interest, how would you like to pay 2.9 percent? Stay on the line..."

Since I have no debt, I could've hung up. But they didn't say identify themselves, and I found that strange. So I pressed 1 and waited to see if it was VISA or someone I'd heard of. The call transfered a few times, and a girl came on and said "Thank you for holding, are you interested in consolidating your debt?" I didn't reply to that, but asked her a question. "What company is this?" and she said "Thank you for your time" and hung up.

This whole phonecall didn't last more than 20 seconds. This girl wouldn't even say what company she works for, yet they'd want me to divulge all kinds of sensative info to consolidate any debts into one payment.

It's so easy to fall into these scams. What with interest rates being all in the news lately. What ya'll think? Have any scams to list that you nearly fell for?

Morality Games · Feb 19, 2008, 03:05 pm

No.

My policy is to ignore most of what people offer me (over the phone, e-mail, whatever) and seek it out myself if I ever feel a need for what they offered, which makes it less likely something will get past my defenses because of a spur of the moment "bargain" purchase. Additionally, whenever I think there is a chance I might be getting scammed, I get a second opinion from friends or family members.

Cephus · Feb 19, 2008, 03:28 pm

I never respond to anything I hear on the phone or see in e-mail. If I wanted to reduce my mortgage payment, I'd go looking for a company, I don't need anyone coming to me and telling me I can do it. Most companies never get to do their spiel to me, they get as far as "Hi, I'm from..." and I hang up.

grandpa · Feb 20, 2008, 03:27 pm

I don't have a phone, so I have less problems in this regard. But I still get stuff in the mail. I recently got something from Triple A, even though I've practically never driven a car.

Grandpa h.

freedom13 · Feb 27, 2008, 10:01 am

Quote:

Quote by: Compugasm

So today I get an automated phone message. Their pitch was "You may be paying double what you should in interest, how would you like to pay 2.9 percent? Stay on the line..."

Since I have no debt, I could've hung up. But they didn't say identify themselves, and I found that strange. So I pressed 1 and waited to see if it was VISA or someone I'd heard of. The call transfered a few times, and a girl came on and said "Thank you for holding, are you interested in consolidating your debt?" I didn't reply to that, but asked her a question. "What company is this?" and she said "Thank you for your time" and hung up.

This whole phonecall didn't last more than 20 seconds. This girl wouldn't even say what company she works for, yet they'd want me to divulge all kinds of sensative info to consolidate any debts into one payment.

It's so easy to fall into these scams. What with interest rates being all in the news lately. What ya'll think? Have any scams to list that you nearly fell for?

I may have fall for junk mail or sweepstakes scams. Maybe once or twice I go caught up in telemarketing scam.

Telemarketing Fraud

Quote:

About Telemarketing Fraud
While there are many legitimate companies that use the telephone for marketing, consumers and business lose millions of dollars to telemarketing fraud each year. It's sometimes hard to tell the difference between reputable telemarketers and criminals who use the phone to rob people. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the danger signs of fraud. If you are a victim or attempted victim of telemarketing fraud, it's important to report the scam quickly so that law enforcement agencies can shut the fraudulent operation down.

Money for Nothing: Top 10 Scams Released
NCL, U.S. and Canadian Law Enforcement Officials Warn about
Loan and Credit Frauds
Top Ten Telemarketing Scams
WASHINGTON, DC... Cramming, billing consumers for optional services that they never ordered, was the number one scam reported to the National Fraud Information Center last year. The second most reported telemarketing fraud was advance fee loans, a credit fraud where consumers pay up front fees hoping to receive personal or business loans.

1998 NFIC Top Ten Telemarketing Frauds
1. Telephone cramming
2. Advance fee loans
3. Telephone slamming
4. Prizes/sweepstakes
5. Work-at-home schemes
6. Magazine sales
7. Credit card offers
8. Telephone pay-per-call services
9. Business opportunities/franchises
10.Travel/vacation offers

Whilletal · Feb 27, 2008, 11:04 am

A class I am taking this semester is on white collar crime. In it we have been talking about scams. It is shocking to me how many people fall for them each year. But the really scary thing is how good the scammers have become at appearing like legitimate companies. I think these people are scum and should be prosecuted to the max. I just feel for the people who are elderly and loose the little they have to these criminals.

Wolfgang · Feb 27, 2008, 10:54 pm

Wolfgang is here!

I have seen a lot of those recently. I found it funny when they called my cell phone. They called me about the offer and when I said I was fourteen, they said "sorry we can not let you apply". i wanted to see how far i could have gotten.

I dont even bother responding to these things. It is very annoying.

Feb 19, 2008, 02:49 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Compugasm Son of X51 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,739	Scams So today I get an automated phone message. Their pitch was "You may be paying double what you should in interest, how would you like to pay 2.9 percent? Stay on the line..." Since I have no debt, I could've hung up. But they didn't say identify themselves, and I found that strange. So I pressed 1 and waited to see if it was VISA or someone I'd heard of. The call transfered a few times, and a girl came on and said "Thank you for holding, are you interested in consolidating your debt?" I didn't reply to that, but asked her a question. "What company is this?" and she said "Thank you for your time" and hung up. This whole phonecall didn't last more than 20 seconds. This girl wouldn't even say what company she works for, yet they'd want me to divulge all kinds of sensative info to consolidate any debts into one payment. It's so easy to fall into these scams. What with interest rates being all in the news lately. What ya'll think? Have any scams to list that you nearly fell for? I'd like to thank Charlie Hodge, bringing me scarves and water.

Feb 19, 2008, 03:05 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Morality Games Hot Lava Location: Iowa Posts: 835	No. My policy is to ignore most of what people offer me (over the phone, e-mail, whatever) and seek it out myself if I ever feel a need for what they offered, which makes it less likely something will get past my defenses because of a spur of the moment "bargain" purchase. Additionally, whenever I think there is a chance I might be getting scammed, I get a second opinion from friends or family members. A moral being is an entity for whom the disadvantage of others is an issue. – K.H.Y.

Feb 19, 2008, 03:28 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Cephus Hot Lava Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 2,258	I never respond to anything I hear on the phone or see in e-mail. If I wanted to reduce my mortgage payment, I'd go looking for a company, I don't need anyone coming to me and telling me I can do it. Most companies never get to do their spiel to me, they get as far as "Hi, I'm from..." and I hang up. Jesus loves me? No thanks, I don't swing that way. Blog Me! http://BitchSpot.JadeDragonOnline.com

Feb 20, 2008, 03:27 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
grandpa blasphemer Location: Michigan Posts: 7,626	I don't have a phone, so I have less problems in this regard. But I still get stuff in the mail. I recently got something from Triple A, even though I've practically never driven a car. Grandpa h. News is something someone wants to suppress, everything else is advertising. - Lord Northcliffe, publisher of the Daily Mail

Feb 27, 2008, 11:04 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
Whilletal Apathetic Posts: 78	A class I am taking this semester is on white collar crime. In it we have been talking about scams. It is shocking to me how many people fall for them each year. But the really scary thing is how good the scammers have become at appearing like legitimate companies. I think these people are scum and should be prosecuted to the max. I just feel for the people who are elderly and loose the little they have to these criminals.

Feb 27, 2008, 10:54 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Wolfgang Molten Ash Posts: 26	Wolfgang is here! I have seen a lot of those recently. I found it funny when they called my cell phone. They called me about the offer and when I said I was fourteen, they said "sorry we can not let you apply". i wanted to see how far i could have gotten. I dont even bother responding to these things. It is very annoying.