What is telemarketing fraud?
Telemarketing fraud is committed by phone by a person trying to deceive the victim for financial profit. While many legitimate companies are doing business using telemarketing programs, there are others who use the anonymity that phones offer and try to cheat people out of money. This can be done by direct theft or theft of identity. A person who has committed fraud with telemarketing promises a product or service offered by an agreement considered too good to be true in return for a secured form of payment. In some cases it will be a guaranteed check, money order or even cash. In other cases it may be a check or credit card. First, the caller always tries to get you to act immediately. Second, calling can discourage you from attempting to examine the reputation of the company. Thirdly, a caller can try to get financial information from you directly by phone.
There are a number of tips that prevent telemarketing fraud. OneFrom the simplest it is never to buy from a company you don't know. If you have to deal with an unknown company, the key is to ensure that you conduct research before passing on financial information.
Many telemarketing schemes of fraud use the benefits of functioning under the guise of a charity organization, especially during the holidays. These are usually very easy to identify. If you are interested in giving such an organization money, simply ask for a phone number where you can call back and verify that they are who they are. If they are not willing to give one, it is likely that it is not a reputable organization of Seeking money.
Telemarketing fraud reports can be done in several different ways. If you feel that you were a victim, the first step is to visit the local law enforcement office. If the crime is large enough and can break federal laws such as interstate business laws, Da isLast alternative to go to the FBI. Another alternative is to contact the National Consumer League, which has a fraud center that maintains a database of messages that can be used to help others who find themselves in similar situations.