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Telemarketing Scams

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT THIS IS A SCAM?

You are contacted by a salesperson via telephone, who offers you prizes, low-cost products, cheap vacations or other discounted deals. The caller may claim to be from a well-known company or organization, but has no proof to verify their affiliation.

The caller claims that the offer is only good for a short amount of time, and you must act now. You are asked to immediately provide personal information or payment or the offer is void.

If the caller represents a sweepstakes or contest, they may ask you to pay handling charges, services fees or other costs before you can collect your winnings.

Register with the Do Not Call Registry, 1-888-382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov. This will help reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive at your home.

Ask for the caller’s name, employer and return phone number. Research the company with the Better Business Bureau (513-421-1025), and contact the company directly through the Yellow Pages to verify the salesperson is one of the company’s representatives.

NEVER give personal information, such as your Social Security Number, bank account information or Medicare number, over the phone unless you initiated the call and can trust the person on the other end of the line.

Do not buckle to high-pressure sales tactics. Ask for the offer in writing, mailed to your home, and let them know that you will review the information and call them back if you’re interested. If the caller won’t take “no” for an answer, hang up.

If the caller says you are a winner of a sweepstakes or contests, request all information about the winnings in writing, mailed to your home.

Limit your participation in future sweepstakes and contests. Often, the information you provide to participate is sold and gets in the hands of scammers. These scammers can turn out to be the unwanted telemarketers who call your home.

Local Police Department: If you think you’ve lost money or your identity to a telemarketing scam, immediately contact your local police department to file a report.

Ohio Attorney General's office: Contact the Ohio Attorney General’s office (800-282-0515).