Frugal Living

One of the things that disgust me when I was still living in the city was the fact that telemarketers somehow got hold of our house number and we often get unsolicited calls for insurance and someone trying to get me to claim some discounted insurance and some prize…

B e w a r e.

The phone has been a known instrument for swindlers. Although phone solicitations are legitimate, there are no easy ways in verifying the people soliciting or even getting pertinent information from you over the phone.

Here are some of the tricksters using the mighty landline.

Fraudulent Telemarketers

These are people who usually promises you prizes and offers you discount over the phone. Using a friendly voice, they will ask for your credit card number with the intent to extort information from you. They might even use high pressure tactics to get you to purchase some merchandise over the phone. Later, you might find that you were billed for something and never receive the product you paid for.

Fake Orders for Magazine Subscriptions

People pretending to sell subscriptions and may “offer” extremely low prices which is only available if you order using your credit card. Again, terms like “verification,” “identification,” or “process” will be used to try to get you to reveal your credit card number. Once you give it, the con artist will use your number to place fake orders.

Investment Frauds

Be wary of accepting calls from scrupulous scammers masquerading as telemarketers. These are scams that may involve selling of coins, precious metals and including insurance.

Credit Card Offers Scam

This type of fraud begins when someone calls your home, and they often identifies themselves as someone from your bank. They would offer you lower interest rates with the intent to getting personal information from you.

W o r d s o f C a u t i o n

• Never get involved in a deal where you are asked to turn money over to a stranger. You might as well ignore emails from Mr. So and So from a Certain Bank anywhere in the world telling you that you have won something. To protect yourself ask for written information on products or services before ordering them.
• Never give out your credit card number on the phone unless you made the call to place an order or to make a donation.
• If you get any suspicious call from your bank, tell the person obtaining information from you to drop the call and you can verify the call from your own bank yourself.

Have you received any unscrupulous offer over the phone? Share them with me by making a comment or email me at frugal.pinoy@gmail.com