Telemarketing Scam Alert From the Better Business Bureau

28 Jul 2008

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning small businesses and consumers to beware of scam activity generating from Champlain, New York - with a tiny population of just over 1,200 it has over 3,000 complaints that involve companies with Champlain and nearby cross-border addresses.

The pitch is often over the phone – and may seem harmless:

Hi, this is (insert a name) from (a company you’ve never heard of) in New York (but they are not there – just their mailbox is)
Your name is: (The rep already had it)
Your phone # is: (The rep already had it)
Can I confirm your address? (The rep already had it)
Thank you. Your business will be listed in our next directory (And - You’ve just been scammed)

With a few simple questions presented by a trained telemarketer, a “sale” is made. The schemes work because people feel more confident doing business with a company in their own country. What they don’t realize is that the ‘offices’ listed in New York are actually a mail-box drop and the key for scammers to have a place to call ‘home’ in New York State. These businesses open a mail-box and then close or move, ultimately ripping people off.

Typical Scams:

• Business Directories
• Credit Card Companies
• Grant Offers
• Advance Fee Loans
• Discount Health Care Plans
• Cash Losses:

The BBB reports $600,000 in dispute from complaints filed in the past year, however - the BBB estimates millions of dollars are lost through these scams each and every year based on historical filing behaviours - reporting that many victims do not file a complaint or do not recognize that a scam has occurred and proceed with payment on phony invoices.

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Comments

Rating: +3

Scot - 28 Jul 2008

a promise to be listed in a business directory(aka "Yellow Pages") is the most popular and abused scheme from my experience.

Rating: +2

Peeko - 31 Jul 2008

Yup, they call our office, too. When I first started at my current job, I was dumb enough to think that the caller was actually the "local yellow pages" as she said. So I started confirming information and didn't get suspicious until she started asking more questions. I hung up on her after she got rude and wouldn't answer any of MY questions.

Few months later, Basic Access Communications started adding a $7.99 charge each month to our phone bill. I don't know that the two events are connected, but it makes sense. We also started receiving an avalance of telemarketing calls afterward.

Now when they mention the yellow pages, I say:
"We are aware of this type of scam. Please take us off your list."

They still call about once a month. I guess to see if another naive person answers the phone and they can screw us again.

Rating: +1

Ryan - 29 Jul 2008

Does anyone know how to check if the company address is an actual office rather than a mail box?

Rating: +2

WindsorFox - 30 Jul 2008

Look it up on Google and Google Maps, call a number of a business close by if there is none associated with the actual address. I've done that before. Most times it turns out to be a UPS Store or similar.

Rating: 0

retired postal employee - 4 Aug 2008

Ryan; the answer is simple....most often a mail box address will be proceeded with a street address followed by either PMB or Suite number.
Both of these are not under control of USPS as they are Private Mail Boxes..ie: UPS/FedEx..etc,etc.....

Rating: -2

chr - 1 Aug 2008

i just recieved a call from web wealth strategies are they a ligitamate business.

Rating: 0

tjpatten - 14 Aug 2008

Why in the world would you even think about doing business with someone who calls your phone? That is like someone who bangs on your car window.Do not respond.

Rating: +2

DM - 4 Aug 2008

I also got a call at the place i work at and they said they were verifying information for a free listing. Then when they got their verifier on the phone he would talk to me over the recorded message and tell me what to say.

Then I got a letter in the mail from MyLocal Reach, 160 W Camino Real, #179, Boca Raton, FL 33432 thanking our business form giving them the opportunity to do business with them. Then it said that our company would be billed only $39.95 per month and the charge would appear on the companies local telephone bill on the ESBI bill page. So I called them and told me that I was told it was a free listing. I talked to someone who sounded like they were 10 years old and she was very rude and told me I should not have authorized the charges. This information was probably said while the verifier was talk over the computerized message.

So from now I will tell them they have to send the information in writing and hang up on them.

Rating: -3

fpc - 21 Aug 2008

hello all...well I was reading this tread because im doing marketing research for a company I have started with my partner...since Im seeing that your only scratching the surface here go to www.b2b-fpc.com we are fraud and provention consultants with over 10 years experience and are located in the telemarketing capital of the world...montreal,canada...we have programs to test your company and help prepare you for telemarketing fraud..and for your home..so residential and buisnesses alike can profite..we also offer a retainer ..so just think..you can call anytime and ask questions,ask us to find out if the company your dealing with is legit or not,we can even help you get your money back...emails and,regular mail updates on less known scams and much much more...the problem im encountering with my partner is people dont seem to believe they are getting scammed or even proun to it..so im open to sugestions..yes we are a buisness not a charity but to devote full attention and to help as many people as possible id like to be able to do this full time with my partner..if u have any sugestions email us on our website..thank you and good luck

Rating: +1

paleni - 21 Aug 2008

YOU sound like a scam

Rating: 0

not anymore - 22 Aug 2008

you said it Paleni!!!! I was thinking the same thing. How about a scam artist in on a thread about scam artist... LOL!!

Rating: 0

amazed - 22 Aug 2008

I would expect a fraud and prevention "consultant" to be able to spell "prevention".

Rating: +1

op - 23 Aug 2008

You are offering "the whole package and much much much more" yet you are asking people for other ideas...

What you are proposing is not even technically possible.

The sad part is, you might even be sincere in your approach. I would suggest you find a real job or get an education so you may develop a sustainable business model with real value to your customers and write up your business' objectives using proper spelling and grammar.

Good luck to you! You need it more..

Rating: 0

Thomas - 2 Sep 2008

Hysterical. "provention"? "Im"? "profite" "your" dealing with? It's YOU'RE. "proun"? "dont", Sounds like a typical illiterate scammer.

Rating: +1

Alert employee - 7 Aug 2008

Sorry to change the subject but there is also another scam that targets busineses that goes as follows: A very assertive person will call a business and say "This is(insert first name), I need the model number off your copier" if you give it they will try to set up a shipment of toner at a sky high price, I beleive that they will try to get your credit card info or send it out COD, either way its a rip off, if you ask what company they're with they will just hang up. Don't fall for this one.

Rating: 0

marie - 12 Aug 2008

I used to get those calls, too. I learned early on to frustrate the caller until they hang up. I ask them if they are from my copy company why are they calling me about model numbers? I guess we picked a pretty lousy company to do business with if they don't even keep records of their machines. Or, which machine are you asking about? After awhile you learn a whole bunch of things to ask them. It is fun to turn the tables on them. You know they are telemarketers because you can hear all the noise and voices in the background.

Rating: +1

Omg! - 25 Aug 2008

I got one of those! The lady was SO RUDE, just abruptly stated "I need the model number off your copier!". I told her, "I am not giving you any information about my company. Sorry!" She said, "It should be right behind you...on the copier." "Nope. Sorry!" Then she asked to speak w. a manager. Bye bye.

Rating: -4

Chelsea - 8 Aug 2008

I just got a call from 1-866-747-5718, once earlier today and another one just now, I asked the phone expecting it to be a tele-marketer.
This chick said "Hi, this is Sara from The national services in Winnipeg Your name is Chelsea."
Before she could say more I cut her off and asked 'What agency?'
Her reply was 'The national services agency'
And I asked again 'What agency? What does that even mean?'
I guess she cought on I wasn't stupid and hung up lol.
I have never got a call like this before on my cell phone.
I definatly know all about the tele-marketing scams/fraud and time shares from my parents experiences.
Oh, I called the number back and guess what, it wasn't in serves.

Rating: +1

John - 10 Aug 2008

Beware of a scam regarding Grants, its a so called scam they call you and tell you they can help you get Grants you pay anywhere from 300.00 to a 1,100 and they provide a place and address but the place accepts Ggrants doesnt give them, so far over 40 requests have been sent to a place I know that needs Grants doesnt give them and people are looking for a Grant.

Rating: +1

Mar - 12 Aug 2008

If I get a call at work,soliciting anything,free or otherwise,I ask them to please Fax the information and we will review it.That gets them off the phone so I can get back to work and if they are legit you will get a fax.

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