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Telephone is an increasingly significant marketing tool for legitimate business, and telemarketing in an important, growing industry. But the telephone in the wrong hands is also becoming a very effective tool to defraud innocent consumers. Be cautious, because there is a new kind of spurious caller fraud about that does not involve a caller on your approach. Fraudsters have been found to be making spontaneous calls to homes, pretending to be your own bank. The spurious calls will sound like a real enquiry from your bank by asking you to confirm your personal details such as your bank account details. In this way, the criminals can get your credit card information and use it to make purchases on your account.
Tips to Avoid Telephone Fraud
• Always use common sense. If you have a gut feeling that something isn't legitimate, you're probably right.
• Make sure the company has a phone number and physical address. Call the company back. Check with Information to see if the phone number actually belongs to that company.
• If you receive a telephone call which sounds suspicious, you should ask for the caller's name and contact number and return their call this will help to prevent such a crime occuring.
• If you receive a telephone call at your home or company and the caller tells you he is an employee of the phone company and needs your help testing your telephone line. They kindly inform you that to properly test your line, you need to dial a certain set of numbers and then simply hang up the phone.
• Under no circumstances should you give out any personal details without having formally verified the identity of the caller.
• If you do make calling card calls in public places (especially airports, bus stations, etc.), always cover the dialing area with your free hand as you key in your numbers.
• If you lose and unable to find your cell phone, instantly call your delivery service and ask them to put a temporary hold on your account that will disable the use of the phone.
The moral of the story is "Trust No One, Not Even Yurself." |
