Phone Scams

1.    Personal Information:

•  Do not put your name on answering machine greeting.
   A good con artist will use this information to scam you.
•  Do not give out your name or other personal information
   to a caller.
•  Do not give out financial information over the telephone.
•  Try to avoid doing banking on the phone and
   never do banking that you did not initiate.

II.   Telemarketers:

•  Never buy anything sight unseen. Check out property
   and seller.
•  Do not pay anything or give credit card numbers in order
   to claim a "Free Prize".
•  Beware of work-at-home offers with registration fees.
•  Be very careful of scams. You can always tell sellers,
   "I don't buy things over the phone." Legitimate sales
   people will accept this and move on.
•  If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

III.  Suspicious callers:

•  If you are not getting straight answers, end the
   conversation.
•  Advise callers you do not do surveys over the phone.
•  Hang up on nuisance callers and report them.
•  Call the police if you are suspicious.

IV.   Cramming" and "Slamming" Charges on your Phone Bill:

•  Cramming is the unofficial name given to certain
   unauthorized charges on your telephone bill. Charges for
   calling 800 numbers, voice mail, and other services are
   small and sometimes go unnoticed. When noticed it takes
   work to get a refund.
•  Slamming is switching your long distance company
   without your permission.
•  Contact your long distance carrier to request a lock on
   your account so the long distance carrier can not be
   switched without written authorization.
•  Examine your phone bill each month for unauthorized
   charges and unwanted monthly services.Legitimate sales
   people will accept this and move on.
•  Do not give out your telephone number when filling out
   sweepstakes and contest entry forms.