Protect Your Financial Health, Hang-Up the Phone

Friday, Mar 28, 2008

LITTLE ROCK – Most of us are used to getting calls from telemarketers, and we simply know to hang-up the phone or politely refuse to buy what they are selling. However, a new telemarketing scam has hit Arkansas and claimed at least 10 victims. Accordingly, today, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued this consumer alert to warn consumers about this new scam and offer tips on how to avoid falling victim to it.

In the latest scheme, the telemarketer contacts a consumer and asks him to either provide or confirm his bank account and bank routing numbers and tries to sell the consumer a prescription discount card, Medicare benefit, health insurance or other health related product. Shortly after the call, amounts ranging from $29.95 to $399.00 are debited from the consumer's bank account, even after the consumer declined to purchase a product.

Consumers also report that the telemarketers are extremely pushy or rude and often refuse to provide detailed information about the company.

"Anybody can be a target of this scam," said McDaniel. "If the person on the other end of the line is pushy or is requesting personal financial information, it should raise red flags, and your best bet is to simply hang-up the phone."

To avoid falling victim to this scheme, or telemarketing schemes in general, here are some tips to remember:

- Never give out your personal bank account information to anyone you don't know and don't trust;
- Be wary of people trying to sell you things without providing you with information on their company;
- Don't feel pressured to make an immediate decision, as legitimate companies will give you some time to consider your purchase; and
- Never be afraid to say, "No," even if the salesperson is pushy or rude.
- If you have been the victim of one of these telemarketing scams, immediately notify your bank of the fraudulent withdrawal, close your bank account to prevent future unauthorized withdrawals, and file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General. A consumer complaint form is available at http://www.ArkansasAG.gov/