Beware of Telemarketers...Phony or Otherwise

The subject of today’s column is one that makes my blood boil.  It addresses the abuse of the first three of the four groups in our society that I treasure most dear (veterans, disabled, elderly, and children).

There are a number of organizations that use telemarketing to prey upon the sympathy of many elderly people by claiming to represent or even be disabled or (quite often) disabled veterans.  These unethical spawn then sell their targets light bulbs, trash bags, and other assorted common household products in bulk numbers at exorbitant prices.  Then they continue to ship these goods to their marks on a monthly basis, thereby, building up the charges.

When the elderly victims are not able to pay, these charlatans engage in threatening telephone calls, threatening insinuations, and endeavor to get the fearful individuals to give up their checking account numbers.  The criminals immediately debited those accounts for as much as possible.  Then, these “sons-of-dogs” have the audacity to ship more of their product and start the same process over again.

Another area of telemarketing fraud is that of organizations calling people (but, again, targeting the elderly) allegedly to help them with their finances.  Promises of glorious returns on investments are promised, as well as assurances of help for those who may be financially compromised.  Again, it is all a scam.

Among the groups currently under investigation for these sorts of activities are:

Handicapped and Disabled Workshops, Inc of Phoenix, AZ

Med Provisions located in Canada

Union Consumer Benefits located in Canada

Steven Breitling/ICS Financial Firm

American Financial Card

Integrity Financial Enterprises

Financial Advisors and Associates

Helping Hands of Hope

U.S. Magazine Services

Publishers Business Services

NHS Systems, Inc.

City West Advantage, Inc. dba Unified Services

Direct Connection Consulting, Inc/Suretouch, LLP

Pacific Liberty

Express Consolidation, Inc.

Universal Premium Services, Inc.

Data Com Marketing, Inc.

Ira Rubin

YMA

What should the consumer (elderly or otherwise) do?

First of all, hang-up!

If you are not the one initiating the telephone call, it is in all probability a scam.  NEVER agree or sign-up for anything on the telephone that you have not instigated.

If, like me, you want to aggravate the living hell out of the scamming telemarketers, listen to their pitch.  Ask ridiculous questions.   For example, if they are trying to sell you garbage bags, ask if they come in the turquoise color.  If they are trying to sell you light bulbs, ask if they have the "black light" kind.  After you have milked them say, “Now, just send all of this to me in writing at 600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC  20580, and I’ll get back to you.”  Then, hang up.  Incidentally, that address is for the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Response Center.

Oh, if any of you phony telemarketers, claiming to be disabled or disabled veterans, should happen to read this, come on by my house.  I am the easiest man in Gordon County, Georgia to find.  Introduce yourself to me.  Give me your sales pitch in person.  When you leave, you will honestly be able to claim a disability!