Protecting Yourself from Phone Scams and Telemarketers
OSU students, faculty and staff periodically receive unsolicited phone calls from companies requesting credit card, bank account and other personal information. Some of these companies are offering legitimate services and some of them are not. Unfortunately, receiving unsolicited calls is not a new concept, however; there are things that you can do to minimize unwanted solicitations and better protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.
National Do Not Call Registery
The first line of defense you can take advantage of, is to register your residential, and personal cellular phone numbers with the Federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry. The law prohibits most telemarketers from calling consumers who have registered their phone numbers with this list.
Registering Your Phone Number:
The registration process is easy. Step-by-step instructions are located on the Registry’s website at https://www.donotcall.gov. You will be able to enter up to three phone numbers and asked to provide your email address. You will then receive an email reply from Register@donotcall.gov that asks you to complete the registration process. Once you have completed the process, telemarketers covered by the National Do Not Call Registry have up to 31 days from the date you registered to stop calling you. The numbers you provide will now remain part of the Registry permanently due to the Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008.
Filing a Complaint:
If you receive a telemarketing call after your phone number has been activated with the Registry, you can file a complaint through the Do Not Call website at https://www.donotcall.gov/.
Further Protecting Yourself from Scams
How can you tell the difference between an offer that is genuine, and a trap being set by a con artist? Read the following information to educate your self on these common con artist techniques and what actions you can take to avoid becoming a victim of a telemarketing scam.
Common Con Artist Techniques:
The element of surprise - The unexpected call with a high-pressure sales pitch urges you to act immediately for a-once-in-a-lifetime deal. You are given no time to evaluate the deal, and must act the same day. An attempt to get personal information such as your credit card, telephone calling card, or checking account number - With this information, scam artists could withdraw money from your checking account, or use your credit card.
A requirement to pay shipping and handling or taxes before receiving any merchandise - You may not receive what is promised, or may receive an item of less value.
Actions You Can Take To Avoid Becoming a Victim of a Scam:
Never give your credit card, checking account, social security or telephone calling numbers or any other personal information about yourself, including medical information or drivers license number over the phone unless you initiated the call to a well-known reputable company.
Never pay for a prize over the phone. That includes paying postage, shipping and handling, or any other costs for something the caller says you have won.
Never allow a caller to pressure you into acting immediately.
Never agree to any offer until you have seen it in writing. If the caller will not send you information in the mail, be suspicious.
If you suspect a call is fraudulent, contact the National Consumers League (NCL) Fraud Center. You can report the fraud by completing NCL's "Online Incident Report Form" or by writing to the following address: NCL's Fraud Center, c/o National Consumers League, 1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20006. The NCL will file a complaint with the appropriate federal, state or local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also offers practical consumer protection information on a variety of topics. You do not need to fall victim to a fast-talking scam artist. All it takes is knowledge and a healthy dose of skepticism.
