"They Can't Hang Up", So Why Pick Up, in the First Place?
"ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CONSUMERS LEAGUE'S NATIONAL FRAUD INFORMATION CENTER, nearly a third of all telemarketing fraud victims are age 60 or older. Studies by AARP show thatmost older telemarketing fraud victims don’t realize that the voice on the phone could belong to someone who is trying to steal their money.Many consumers believe that salespeople nice young men or women simply trying to make a living. They may be pushy or exaggerate the offer, but they’re basically honest. While that’s true for most telemarketers, there are some whose intentions are to rob people, using phones as their weapons. The FBI says that there are thousands of fraudulent telemarketing companies operating in the United States. There are also an increasing number of illegal telemarketers who target U.S. residents from locations in Canada and other countries."
Here is a little tip for the National Consumer's League: most people don't realize the the phone can be used as a weapon.
It isn't just little old ladies and men sitting around in their semi addled state who don't believe that their minds can be broken into and pilfered as easily as their houses or cars can be looted.
How does the NCL counsel seniors to avoid fraud?
There are five steps; why five and not seven -who knows?
Let's jump ahead to the the fifth step.
"THE FIFTH STEP in fighting telemarketing fraud is to inform older people about how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings they receive and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.· Avoid getting on sucker lists. Don’t fill out contest entry forms at fairs or malls—they are a common source of "leads" for con artists. Ask companies you do business with not to share your personal information with other marketers.
· Know your "Do-Not-Call" rights. Under federal law, you can tell a telemarketer not to call you again. Ask your state attorney general’s office or consumer affairs department if there is a state "Do-Not-Call" law and how it protects you.
· Know who you’re dealing with. If it’s an unfamiliar company or charity, check it out with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau.
· Screen your calls. Use an answering machine, Caller ID, or other services that may be available from your phone company to help you determine who you want to talk to and who you want to avoid.
· Have a plan for speaking to telemarketers. Before you pick up the phone, know what questions you want to ask or what you want to say. Be polite, but firm. Hang up if someone refuses to answer your questions or you detect the"red flags" of fraud.
· Know that your phone number may be collected. When you call a company, your number can be displayed through Automatic Number Identification (ANI). If you have an account with the business, this enables the customer service representative to pull up your records and help you faster, but ANI can also be used for marketing purposes. Ask what information is being collected and tell the company if you don’t want to be put on a marketing list."
Only screening your calls makes sense as defense against fraud. Remember the essence of fraud is, as Barry Minkow so eloquently stated, the skin of truth stuffed with a lie.
When an expert is pitching you, you will be handed off to series of individuals, all pushing you forward to take seemingly small commitment steps - each apparently insignificant.
You cannot count of the cool breeze of rationality to slow you down - encounters with genuine experts users of compliance techniques are whirlwind affairs.
Stop before you start - Screen your calls.
Telemarketers cannot steal from you if they cannot talk you.
