Telemarketing Fraud

If you're 55 or older, you may be a special target for people who sell bogus products and services by phone. Fraudulent telemarketers try to take advantage of older people on the theory that they may be more trusting and polite toward strangers. Older women living alone are common targets of the scams. It's easy enough to buy into to their sales pitch. Telemarketing fraud is a multi-billion dollar business in the United States and these people are professionals at deception. Every year thousands of consumers lose from a few dollars to their life savings to telephone con artists. Additional information can be viewed at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office on customer complaints.

Beware of an unknown caller:

· Instructs you to wire money · Says you've won a prize but asks you to send money first. · Says you have to act right away or the offer won't be good. · Offers to have someone pick up a payment from your home. · Says he or she is a law enforcement officer who will help you-- for a fee.

Follow the guidelines to protect yourself:

· Don’t assume a friendly voice belongs to a friend · Check all unsolicited offers with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-392-8222 · Never give your credit card, checking account or social security number to an unknown caller.

To Report  Telemarketing Fraud

For more information or to report a telemarketing problem call: · Missouri Attorney General’s Office Online Customer Complaint Form · National Fraud Information Center, 1-800-876-7060 · Online Complaint form for Federal Trade Commission