Types of Telemarketing Scams

There are countless ways that telemarketing scammers try to trick people. They target anyone and everyone. In order to better identify these tactics, it is important to learn about potential scams that you may come across.

The Key-Word Scam

If you say a key phrase like “Yes” when asked “Can You Hear Me?” scammers typically immediately hang up, then try to use that voice recording in order to approve other accounts. If you ever receive a call like this just hang up without saying anything.

Robocalls

This is one of the more popular ways scammers attempt to get the information they want. They will have automated dialing call your number because it is the cheaper alternative than human work. These calls typically try to show a customer a product or “deal” in hopes to get your information or money.

International Lottery

This is another popular scamming method that you may encounter. The scammer will call and try to sell you foreign lottery tickets that “have a high chance of winning”. You may even “win” some money, but the winnings do not outweigh the amount spent. Not worth it!

Counterfeit Checks

You may receive a fake check in the mail, but then these letters are typically followed up by the scammer calling from a foreign country. They will ask you to deposit the check into your account then wire funds to another person for a “legit” reason like insurance, fees, or taxes. Your bank will usually catch that these checks are fake and deny the money from your account. However, it is usually too late, and you already sent the money to the scammer.

Family Emergency Scams

This is a type of scam that has a younger scammer calling an older victim posing as a family member like a grandchild. The scammer then explains some type of family emergency where they need financial help. It can even sound legitimate because scammers can get data from the grandchild through social media platforms.

Government Grants

This is a common scam because many people have heard of grants before, so they end up falling for this trick. This is when the scammer calls and informs the potential victim that they have been deemed eligible to receive government grants. They will typically ask for banking information in order to withdraw funds from your account.

Advance-Fee Loans

This is a type of scam that takes advantage of people in need of a loan with no credit or poor credit. With these types of “loans,” the lender will require that the debtor pays an amount that covers expenses like a processing fee or a security deposit. However, even once you pay the fee, you won’t receive the loan.

Overall

There are many different types of scams that you may encounter. If you are unsure about a situation, hang up the call and find a way to verify your suspicions. Never give out your personal information over the phone. Don’t forget to sign your phone up on national do not call registries to reduce your chances of receiving a scam call!