Lately, my office has received phone calls from constituents about aggressive telemarketing calls, with some becoming victims of phone scams. These crimes happen to the best of people, young and old, from nearly every walk of life. In the past, the Federal Trade Commission has reported that billions of dollars in consumer losses are tied […]
Lately, my office has received phone calls from constituents about aggressive telemarketing calls, with some becoming victims of phone scams. These crimes happen to the best of people, young and old, from nearly every walk of life. In the past, the Federal Trade Commission has reported that billions of dollars in consumer losses are tied to phone scams.
As consumers, we must become familiar with the ways of scam artists in order to protect ourselves from falling victim to a con. Scam artists use a variety of tactics in their attempts to gain your personal information. Some use company names similar to trusted brands and government agencies, while others press you to act on an offer immediately. Common tactics include creating a fictitious sweepstakes or prize win to collect personal and credit information or attempting to convince someone to pay ahead of time for complimentary service or goods. Often times with these offers, the scammers will refuse to send you written materials or details.
You can avoid being scammed by not sharing personal information with people or companies with which you are not familiar. Don’t be afraid to assert yourself by asking for written materials regarding promotions, stating you are not interested, or even hanging up on the telemarketer. If you experience something unsettling, report the possible scam to law enforcement and consumer-protection organizations.
Please know there are strict rules for telemarketers. They may only call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and their caller ID information must be clear and disclosed. Similarly, before they are allowed to promote their product, they must disclose who they are and note that the call is a sales call. Telemarketers are also required to inform you of all costs before you pay for anything. Finally, they cannot call you again after you ask to not be called again or if you are on the Do Not Call registry. If a business violates these rules, it can be fined up to $11,000.
There are many organizations you can contact to handle telemarketing issues and phone scams. To avoid telemarketing calls altogether, register with the Do Not Call Registry by visiting donotcall.gov or by calling (888) 382-1222. The Better Business Bureau tracks and informs consumers about known telemarketing scams; its Upstate office can be reached at bbb.org/upstate-new-york or (800) 828-5000. For state resources, you may contact the NYS Attorney General Consumer Helpline at (800) 771-7755 or ag.ny.gov, as well as the NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection Helpline at (800) 697-1220 or dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection.
Marc W. Butler (R,C,I–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us