Has your phone been ringing at least once a day from an 800 number or 636 number that always asks for the same person? And that person isn’t you? But even if you say you aren’t that person they keep calling you? Well, that’s because they’re scammers. While the two callers in the example are obviously not the smartest scammers out there, the tough economy has brought out some very clever thieves. In fact, an article from the Wall Street Journal specifically talks about how even the smartest of us can be fooled. Whether someone is calling you pretending to be a child or grandchild abroad in jail and needing bail, or someone claiming to have your dog, or claiming that you owe money on a debt from long ago – it can be hard to distinguish fraudulent calls from legitimate ones. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it though. Simply follow these tips and hopefully you won’t line the pocket of these jerks.
Tips to keep the scammers away:
- Ask questions—lots of them.
- Check credentials.
- Seek professional or informed second opinions.
- When evaluating an offer, always start your pro and con list with the “cons.”