How to
Avoid Being Cheated by Telephone Con-Artists and Avoid Unwanted
Calls:
When it comes to telemarketing calls, two things sometimes
trouble Iowa consumers: unwanted solicitations, and flat-out
fraud schemes.
Under new federal regulations that took effect December 31,
it is illegal for any telemarketer to call before 8 a.m. or
after 9 p.m. -- and it is illegal for them to call you back
if you tell them, "Do not call us again." These
are basic measures that will help all of us avoid unwanted
calls.
Fraud
schemes are harder to tackle because con-artists ignore the
rules. They lie, cheat and steal -- mostly from older Iowans.
That means two things: consumers need to be on their toes
to avoid schemes, and our office will continue its highly-
effective undercover telephone "sting" that is putting
the crooks in jail.
Telephone
con-artists can be extremely clever and completely unscrupulous.
We know of at least a dozen Iowans who have lost more than
$50,000 apiece to scams.
| Here
are some tips to avoid telemarketing fraud: |
