The Fraud
How often do you get unsolicited, high pressure boiler room phone calls with exotic vacation offers, or fantastic merchandise or cash sweepstakes prizes . . . but only good if you act right now? If they call your business, perhaps they're selling fabulous advertising opportunities in fake Yellow Pages-type books or very inexpensive printer cartridges with large shipping and handling fees. And all they want is your bank information or credit card number.
The Flaw
Again, gullibility is the chief problem here. Most of these telemarketing scams are aimed at the elderly or the busy payables clerk or secretary, all of whom are too polite to cut someone off.
The Fix
Hang up! Then get on the "Do Not Call" list, right away.
Buy only from a reputable telemarketing firm. Never pay a fee to receive something "free." If you have doubts about a particular firm, contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the Federal Trade Commission to see if complaints have been registered against the firm.