| Crime Prevention Information |
Nigerian Bank Scam:
This scam involves sending out emails by someone claiming to have access to
millions and millions of dollars. It’s a hard luck story, usually claiming
someone who was very wealthy has died. The person contacting you claims to
have a way to access those funds, but the laws of their country won’t let them
get to the money.
They need your help to get the money out of the country. They will use terms
like “God Bless You”, & “I am very trusting of you”. The emails use broken
english to purport they are not that educated. Don’t be fooled. This is all part
of the scam to gain your trust.
All they need from you is your banking information and they will give you part
of the money for your services.
Here’s what happens. They steal your information and either use it or sell it.
You end up in debt and spend years trying to straighten out the mess.
This scam involves sending out emails by someone claiming to have access to
millions and millions of dollars. It’s a hard luck story, usually claiming
someone who was very wealthy has died. The person contacting you claims to
have a way to access those funds, but the laws of their country won’t let them
get to the money.
They need your help to get the money out of the country. They will use terms
like “God Bless You”, & “I am very trusting of you”. The emails use broken
english to purport they are not that educated. Don’t be fooled. This is all part
of the scam to gain your trust.
All they need from you is your banking information and they will give you part
of the money for your services.
Here’s what happens. They steal your information and either use it or sell it.
You end up in debt and spend years trying to straighten out the mess.
I Only Pay By Cheque Scam:
This scam involves someone selling an item, usually on-line. They are
contacted by a purchaser who informs he/she will pay by cheque once the
goods are recieved.
The seller in good faith sends the merchandise and never receives payment.
Another way this scam works is the purchaser offers the services of a middle
person to handle the transaction. The purchaser sends the merchandise and
either get a worthless cheque or the cheque never arrives.
Another way this scam works is the purchaser steals someone’s cheque book
and they purchase the items. The cheque either gets honoured (which
means you have to pay the money back) or the cheque is returned NSF. This
has even happened with CLONED Certified Cheques, Bank Drafts & Postal
Money Orders. These criminals are clever. In this case it’s SELLER BEWARE.
This scam involves someone selling an item, usually on-line. They are
contacted by a purchaser who informs he/she will pay by cheque once the
goods are recieved.
The seller in good faith sends the merchandise and never receives payment.
Another way this scam works is the purchaser offers the services of a middle
person to handle the transaction. The purchaser sends the merchandise and
either get a worthless cheque or the cheque never arrives.
Another way this scam works is the purchaser steals someone’s cheque book
and they purchase the items. The cheque either gets honoured (which
means you have to pay the money back) or the cheque is returned NSF. This
has even happened with CLONED Certified Cheques, Bank Drafts & Postal
Money Orders. These criminals are clever. In this case it’s SELLER BEWARE.
Loan Scam:
FINANCE ANYONE”. These criminals will ask you to pay an upfront fee before
they can do anything and bold face lie to you that you will get your loan. If you
read the agreement carefully it will state Subject to Credit Approval. Then they
will tell you it’s just a you lose your money. In some cases they offer you a loan
with a high interest rate and repayment scheme you can’t afford.
The reality is they don’t deliver and your out of pocket upfront fees which can
be as high or higher than $500.00. Legitimate lending institutions don’t ask for
fees at all.
FINANCE ANYONE”. These criminals will ask you to pay an upfront fee before
they can do anything and bold face lie to you that you will get your loan. If you
read the agreement carefully it will state Subject to Credit Approval. Then they
will tell you it’s just a you lose your money. In some cases they offer you a loan
with a high interest rate and repayment scheme you can’t afford.
The reality is they don’t deliver and your out of pocket upfront fees which can
be as high or higher than $500.00. Legitimate lending institutions don’t ask for
fees at all.
Job Scams:
Any advertisement that results in the solicitation of funds to get you a job or for
“insider” information to get you a job is a scam that is going to cost you money
and provide no results, regardless of the guarantee.
If you are seeking to enter a field and you want to know what it takes to get
hired, contact schools & companies and ask them their criteria for hiring.
There are no shortcuts. The harder you work the luckier you will get.
Any advertisement that results in the solicitation of funds to get you a job or for
“insider” information to get you a job is a scam that is going to cost you money
and provide no results, regardless of the guarantee.
If you are seeking to enter a field and you want to know what it takes to get
hired, contact schools & companies and ask them their criteria for hiring.
There are no shortcuts. The harder you work the luckier you will get.
The Silent or Mystery Shopper Cheque Cashing Scam:
You are given cheques to cash at various financial institutions (banks, cheque cashing businesses) and are asked
to comment and score the way you were served. You go in cash the cheque and your paid part of the funds you
received. You have just committed fraud and become a party to a crime. Financial institutions do not use this
type of service. They simply monitor their staff to ensure they comply with the financial institutions policies, the law
and customer service expectations. If you come across an ad like this contact your local police.
You are given cheques to cash at various financial institutions (banks, cheque cashing businesses) and are asked
to comment and score the way you were served. You go in cash the cheque and your paid part of the funds you
received. You have just committed fraud and become a party to a crime. Financial institutions do not use this
type of service. They simply monitor their staff to ensure they comply with the financial institutions policies, the law
and customer service expectations. If you come across an ad like this contact your local police.
Lottery Scams:
Offers to play lotteries for you worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in other countries or is connected to
Lottery Agencies around the world. All they need is your favourite numbers and a credit card number.
Tells you you have won a lottery jackpot or a share of one, but they will need a credit card or your banking
information to either confirm your identification or deposit your funds.
These scams are designed to do one thing: steal your credit card number and or bank information.
Offers to play lotteries for you worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in other countries or is connected to
Lottery Agencies around the world. All they need is your favourite numbers and a credit card number.
Tells you you have won a lottery jackpot or a share of one, but they will need a credit card or your banking
information to either confirm your identification or deposit your funds.
These scams are designed to do one thing: steal your credit card number and or bank information.
The Job Offer:
This scam offers you employment as the regoinal, provincial, state, country or continent wide representitive for
precious metals, diamonds, or other types of products. They will approach you in a manner like you have already
been selected for the job. They will ask for a resume, your bank info to desposit your pay cheque. The scams
takes your information and is designed to steal your identity. Imagine the damage that can be caused by giving a
scam artist all your personal work history, social insurance/security number, your past residences and your bank
information. This is all the information you need to get credit or open a bank account.
This scam offers you employment as the regoinal, provincial, state, country or continent wide representitive for
precious metals, diamonds, or other types of products. They will approach you in a manner like you have already
been selected for the job. They will ask for a resume, your bank info to desposit your pay cheque. The scams
takes your information and is designed to steal your identity. Imagine the damage that can be caused by giving a
scam artist all your personal work history, social insurance/security number, your past residences and your bank
information. This is all the information you need to get credit or open a bank account.
Bogus Charities:
These scam artists create false charities and in some cases clone the website of legitimate charities and solicit
funds by fraud. They create moving stories complete with pirated pictures to illustrate how desperately they need
your money. Your hard earned money goes into the pockets of criminals instead of helping people or going to the
charity you intended.
If you donate on-line contact the charity to double check you have the correct website address.
Scammers will also go door to door and pose as volunteers to collect money for bogus or legitimate charities. If
you are approached ask them for a contact phone number and to wait outside and then check that phone number
in the phone book. It only takes a quick minute. If it doesn’t check out call the police right away.
These scam artists create false charities and in some cases clone the website of legitimate charities and solicit
funds by fraud. They create moving stories complete with pirated pictures to illustrate how desperately they need
your money. Your hard earned money goes into the pockets of criminals instead of helping people or going to the
charity you intended.
If you donate on-line contact the charity to double check you have the correct website address.
Scammers will also go door to door and pose as volunteers to collect money for bogus or legitimate charities. If
you are approached ask them for a contact phone number and to wait outside and then check that phone number
in the phone book. It only takes a quick minute. If it doesn’t check out call the police right away.
Hard Luck or Down On Their Luck Story:
These scam artists will take the hard luck story of someone else and make it their own or create one and then go
on the internet and either solicit donations by email or set up a website to con you out of your money.
If you want to help someone out who is hit by hard times, do your homework before you send money.
These scam artists will take the hard luck story of someone else and make it their own or create one and then go
on the internet and either solicit donations by email or set up a website to con you out of your money.
If you want to help someone out who is hit by hard times, do your homework before you send money.
It’s The Deal Of The Year / Bogus Advertisements:
You find a website or receive an email that is selling a product you want. It can be clothing, jewellery, personal
accessories, electronics or a host of consumer products. If someone is offering you a designer product that sells
for hundreds or thousands of dollars for $99.99, chances are you are either buying a knock off product or will
never receive your product.
If you receive your product you may be shocked to find out you have been charge excessive shipping & handling
fees, all conveniently charged to your credit card.
These scam artists clone merchandise or simply fraudulently collect your money and after a period of time when
they feel they have run their course, they close the website and dissappear only to resurface somewhere else
under a different name.
You lose your money and or end up with cheaply made knock off merchandise that does not look like the pirated
picture you saw on the internet.
You find a website or receive an email that is selling a product you want. It can be clothing, jewellery, personal
accessories, electronics or a host of consumer products. If someone is offering you a designer product that sells
for hundreds or thousands of dollars for $99.99, chances are you are either buying a knock off product or will
never receive your product.
If you receive your product you may be shocked to find out you have been charge excessive shipping & handling
fees, all conveniently charged to your credit card.
These scam artists clone merchandise or simply fraudulently collect your money and after a period of time when
they feel they have run their course, they close the website and dissappear only to resurface somewhere else
under a different name.
You lose your money and or end up with cheaply made knock off merchandise that does not look like the pirated
picture you saw on the internet.
Inside Information & Hot Stock Picks:
These scammers email or contact you and claim to have a hot stock pick or inside information on a stock and they
want to share it with you. Using insider information or claiming to have inside info is illegal as it violates trading
laws. Stock Scammers will also create false web pages and direct you to click to see the outstanding performance
of the company and it’s stock. These people simply want to steal your hard earned money.
If you want to invest, use the services of your bank or a registered brokerage company. They will explain to you
the real rewards and risks in investing your money and your rights as an investor.
These scammers email or contact you and claim to have a hot stock pick or inside information on a stock and they
want to share it with you. Using insider information or claiming to have inside info is illegal as it violates trading
laws. Stock Scammers will also create false web pages and direct you to click to see the outstanding performance
of the company and it’s stock. These people simply want to steal your hard earned money.
If you want to invest, use the services of your bank or a registered brokerage company. They will explain to you
the real rewards and risks in investing your money and your rights as an investor.
Cheap Meds On Line:
Never order any type of medicines on-line, unless you are dealing with an established company with a public
reputation or they are recommended by your doctor.
Companies that offer medications without a prescription are a health hazard waiting to happen.
You may think your getting a deal, but cloning products has even extended to medicines and you have no idea if
you are receiveing a placebo, a lethal cocktail or the real medicine.
The safest bet is to use your pharmacy and the skills of your Pharmacist, who in many cases track the medicines
you use and can advise you of any risks of mixing medicines and how to properly use the medicine your Doctor
has prescribed.
Did You Know: Many medicines these on-line companies purport to sell are call “controlled substances”. This
means you can only get them with a prescription from a Doctor and dispensed by a Pharmacist.
Never order any type of medicines on-line, unless you are dealing with an established company with a public
reputation or they are recommended by your doctor.
Companies that offer medications without a prescription are a health hazard waiting to happen.
You may think your getting a deal, but cloning products has even extended to medicines and you have no idea if
you are receiveing a placebo, a lethal cocktail or the real medicine.
The safest bet is to use your pharmacy and the skills of your Pharmacist, who in many cases track the medicines
you use and can advise you of any risks of mixing medicines and how to properly use the medicine your Doctor
has prescribed.
Did You Know: Many medicines these on-line companies purport to sell are call “controlled substances”. This
means you can only get them with a prescription from a Doctor and dispensed by a Pharmacist.
Bogus Services:
Contractors offering bogus services is on the rise and this costs you money and damages the businesses of those
who are legitimate service providers.
Whether they are selling building services, maintenance services or house cleaning services be very cautious.
An unbelievably low price will be the first warning. This will be followed by add-on pricing, in the end you save no
money and in some cases end up paying more and receive poor quality.
Before you sign any agreement or turn over your hard earned dollars do your homework. Check to see if they
have a business licence, are they insured, check with the better business bureau, ask for references and seek
recommendations from friends and families. Check with their competitors to see if the price you were quoted is in
line with that industry standard.
Never sign on the dotted line. Take a cooling off period. Some jurisdictions allow for a colling off period for
contracts signed in the home. Check your local provincial or state laws.
Be extremely cautious of door to door sales people, while many are legitimate some are looking for the opportunity
to part you from your money and then disappear.
In the snowbelt area’s be especially cautious of snow removal services that offer an unbelieveable low price. It
costs money to deliver services.
Contractors offering bogus services is on the rise and this costs you money and damages the businesses of those
who are legitimate service providers.
Whether they are selling building services, maintenance services or house cleaning services be very cautious.
An unbelievably low price will be the first warning. This will be followed by add-on pricing, in the end you save no
money and in some cases end up paying more and receive poor quality.
Before you sign any agreement or turn over your hard earned dollars do your homework. Check to see if they
have a business licence, are they insured, check with the better business bureau, ask for references and seek
recommendations from friends and families. Check with their competitors to see if the price you were quoted is in
line with that industry standard.
Never sign on the dotted line. Take a cooling off period. Some jurisdictions allow for a colling off period for
contracts signed in the home. Check your local provincial or state laws.
Be extremely cautious of door to door sales people, while many are legitimate some are looking for the opportunity
to part you from your money and then disappear.
In the snowbelt area’s be especially cautious of snow removal services that offer an unbelieveable low price. It
costs money to deliver services.
Flea Market Deals - Bogus Products:
Flea markets are a great place to buy arts, crafts and get some great deals on products we use everyday. Flea
markets are also a haven for the people with the entrepreneurial spirit to make extra money.
Flea markets are also a great place for scammers to sell knock off products. Some of these products don’t meet
safety standards and are manuafacturing mistakes or manufactured so cheaply the risk greatly outweighs the
reward. Sometimes a decent vendor makes a mistake and sometimes a vendor has no scruples and knows full
well what they are doing.
Be especially cautious when purchasing items where safety is a concern. For example; extension cords, fire safety
items, cleaning products, medicines, products for children just to name a few. It is buyer beware. Trust your
instincts, if it doesn’t feel right, walk away.
Flea markets are a great place to buy arts, crafts and get some great deals on products we use everyday. Flea
markets are also a haven for the people with the entrepreneurial spirit to make extra money.
Flea markets are also a great place for scammers to sell knock off products. Some of these products don’t meet
safety standards and are manuafacturing mistakes or manufactured so cheaply the risk greatly outweighs the
reward. Sometimes a decent vendor makes a mistake and sometimes a vendor has no scruples and knows full
well what they are doing.
Be especially cautious when purchasing items where safety is a concern. For example; extension cords, fire safety
items, cleaning products, medicines, products for children just to name a few. It is buyer beware. Trust your
instincts, if it doesn’t feel right, walk away.
Pyramid Schemes:
These scammers claim to have a great product or service everyone needs and wants. They claim to be a multi
million dollar national company. They don’t encourage the sale of the product or service, they encourage you to
become a dealer and to recruit others to work for you as dealers as well.
They have everything you need and for an upfront fee they can set you up in business and train you to recruit
others.
They money flows to the top of the pyramid and the more people you recruit the farther up the pyramid you move
with all types of incentives until you reach the top. You never reach the top and when things go bad, the people
at the top disappear.
These consumate scam artists waste your time and your money encouraging you to recruit dealers with all kinds
of tactics from weekend getaways to cash incentives to encouragement to keep you in the pyramid scheme. If you
want out they will let you, but only after telling you about all the greatness you will miss out on if you leave.
These scammers claim to have a great product or service everyone needs and wants. They claim to be a multi
million dollar national company. They don’t encourage the sale of the product or service, they encourage you to
become a dealer and to recruit others to work for you as dealers as well.
They have everything you need and for an upfront fee they can set you up in business and train you to recruit
others.
They money flows to the top of the pyramid and the more people you recruit the farther up the pyramid you move
with all types of incentives until you reach the top. You never reach the top and when things go bad, the people
at the top disappear.
These consumate scam artists waste your time and your money encouraging you to recruit dealers with all kinds
of tactics from weekend getaways to cash incentives to encouragement to keep you in the pyramid scheme. If you
want out they will let you, but only after telling you about all the greatness you will miss out on if you leave.
Telemarketers:
These scam artists prey on people who are vulnerable and lonely. Keeping them on the phone and listening to
their problems or just listening to them while working their scam. The scam artist preys upon their emotions and
their lonliness.
The scam artists end up with the money and the victim ends up getting ripped off with crappy products which are
not worth a fraction of the money spent or they receive nothing at all.
These scammers create lists of vulnerable people and then attack. They also sell these lists to other scam artists
or keep them for the next scam they come up with.
These scam artists prey on people who are vulnerable and lonely. Keeping them on the phone and listening to
their problems or just listening to them while working their scam. The scam artist preys upon their emotions and
their lonliness.
The scam artists end up with the money and the victim ends up getting ripped off with crappy products which are
not worth a fraction of the money spent or they receive nothing at all.
These scammers create lists of vulnerable people and then attack. They also sell these lists to other scam artists
or keep them for the next scam they come up with.
Mail Fraud:
You’ve receive a travel voucher offering you a trip to some exotic local for free or at a severely discounted price.
All the scammer needs is your credit card number for the taxes and or insurance. They charge your credit card
for more than they claimed and you get either the worst vacation experience ever or you get no trip and they
disappear. Book your own holiday with a reputable travel agency.
Scratch & Win Cards are another favourite of the scam artist. Every card is a winner and you get a choice of
several incredible gifts. The scam here is they lead you to believe you will recieve one of the gifts, your choice, if
you buy what they are selling. You end up receiving nothing or shoddy merchandise and your incredible gift
never arrives.
There are so many scams that arrive by mail the best advice is to throw out anything that offers the “too good to
be true” sales pitch.
You’ve receive a travel voucher offering you a trip to some exotic local for free or at a severely discounted price.
All the scammer needs is your credit card number for the taxes and or insurance. They charge your credit card
for more than they claimed and you get either the worst vacation experience ever or you get no trip and they
disappear. Book your own holiday with a reputable travel agency.
Scratch & Win Cards are another favourite of the scam artist. Every card is a winner and you get a choice of
several incredible gifts. The scam here is they lead you to believe you will recieve one of the gifts, your choice, if
you buy what they are selling. You end up receiving nothing or shoddy merchandise and your incredible gift
never arrives.
There are so many scams that arrive by mail the best advice is to throw out anything that offers the “too good to
be true” sales pitch.
Bank Examiner / Inspector:
The scam artists usually work around banks and in some cases works around identity theft. The scam artist
approaches people and identifies themselves as a Bank Examiner or Bank Inspector. Sometimes they will even
have business cards or phony bank or government identification.
They tell the story of either a dishonest bank teller or bank manager stealing money. The story will continue they
need your assurance you can keep quiet and not tell anyone because it would jeopordize the investigation. Once
they have the victim convinced they are becoming part of a sting operation to catch a dishonest person they will
then ask the victim to go into the bank and either withdraw money or apply for a loan.
After the victim gets the money or the loan, they are asked to turn the money over to the phony Bank Examiner or
Bank Inspector. The scam artist disappears with the money.
This scam targets mostly seniors and vulnerable people.
Financial institutions have many safe guards to protect the money and would never ask a customer to assist in
catching someone they suspect of stealing. Banks would never put a customer in harms way. This is why banks
have their own security and this is backed up by internal and government audits to protect you and your money.
The scam artists usually work around banks and in some cases works around identity theft. The scam artist
approaches people and identifies themselves as a Bank Examiner or Bank Inspector. Sometimes they will even
have business cards or phony bank or government identification.
They tell the story of either a dishonest bank teller or bank manager stealing money. The story will continue they
need your assurance you can keep quiet and not tell anyone because it would jeopordize the investigation. Once
they have the victim convinced they are becoming part of a sting operation to catch a dishonest person they will
then ask the victim to go into the bank and either withdraw money or apply for a loan.
After the victim gets the money or the loan, they are asked to turn the money over to the phony Bank Examiner or
Bank Inspector. The scam artist disappears with the money.
This scam targets mostly seniors and vulnerable people.
Financial institutions have many safe guards to protect the money and would never ask a customer to assist in
catching someone they suspect of stealing. Banks would never put a customer in harms way. This is why banks
have their own security and this is backed up by internal and government audits to protect you and your money.
To understand how a scam works you need to understand the art of sales.
Nothing happens until you close the sale.
You don’t get any money until you close the sale.
Sales are based upon wants and needs. Scam artists will invent something you want or need, they don’t care.
They just want your money.
The next step is to create the illusion of an unbelievable deal. Something for nothing or next to nothing. Greed.
You need a vacation. Something you need or want.
Then next step is to create pressure or "deal heat"; “act now”, “first 100 callers”, “expires tomorrow”.
Then there’s the sales script: [edited]
Scam Artist:Hello, 1-800-Great-Trips-2-Florida, this is Jane speaking.
Consumer:I am calling about the Florida Vacation for $99, I got a flyer in the mail (or I found it on the internet).
Scam Artist: Do you have the Promotional Code.
Consumer: It’s 17890
Scam Artist: The promotion code entitles you to a 4 days and three night stay at the ********* Resort in Florida
including the weekend. Use of all the resorts amenities, like windsurfing, scuba diving and includes a meal
package for breakfast and dinner. This also includes airfare. In order to book you, I need a credit card number to
pay for the package, taxes, and the insurance.
Consumer: How much does all this come to?
Scam Artists: $399.78. $99 for the package, $245.78 for taxes, the taxes are charged based upon the cost of the
actual airfare and hotel. We have no control over taxes and the travel insurance is $54.22 and this covers
everything from missing the plane to having to cancel due to illness or emergency and will let you rebook later at
no additional cost.
Consumer: That sounds like a great deal.
Scam Artist: We’ve been putting this promotion together for some time and it expires today. Would you like to
book it now.
Consumer: Yes.
Scam Artists: Can I have your home address, with the postal code first.
Consumer: R1P 0FF
Scam Artist: That’s 22 Rip Off Lane, Ottawa
Consumer: Yes that’s correct. How did you know that?
Scam Artist: Your in our Preferred Customer database. (computer programs that ties addresses to postal codes)
Scam Artist: Can I have your credit card number.
Consumer: It’s 1234 5678 7890
Scam Artist: The expiry date.
Consumer: It’s 12/12
Scam Artists: I also need the confirmation number on the back of the card. It will be the last three or four digits. It
let’s us know it’s your card and prevents fraud.
Consumer: The numbers are 789
Scam Artists: We will mail the entire package out to you today, please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Consumer: Thank You.
Scam Artist: Thank You and I hope you enjoy your vacation.
End Call
You just got scammed and gave away your personal credit information.
Let’s Review The End Result of the Great Vacation Package:
You will be offered an unbelievable deal. In fact it seems too good to be true. This should be your first hint that
you are about to be scammed. You can go to Florida for $99, including airfare and stay at an all inclusive hotel
for 4 days and 3 nights. They just need a credit card to pay the taxes & insurance. You gladly give your credit
card number and are told the total cost will be $399.78. When you get your bill you notice a charge for
$1499.78. You freak out. You call and are informed the insurance company required a $1200.00 premium to
insure your trip because you are not a resident of Canada (if you live in Canada the excuse is you are not a US
resident).
Don’t be fooled there are criminals out there who train these scam phone room sales forces to do one thing sell,
sell, sell. You end up ripped off with the worst vacation ever or you get nothing.
Scams work by playing on a persons greed and their emotions. There is also “deal heat”, in other words you
need to act now. Getting something for nothing is the deal everyone wants. Criminals know this and exploit it.
These scam artists use persuasion by asking a series of questions that conditions a response that leads to the
close of the sale. They control the call by being upbeat and sounding excited they are able to bring you this great
deal.
Scam artists use pre-prepared scripts which condition a positive response right up to the closing of the sale. In
other words based upon the laws of probability some will follow the bait and some will simply hang up.
Here are some examples of getting a positive conditioned response: (emotions)
You need a vacation, right.
You sound like you need a break.
You deserve a break and this package ends today. You don’t want to miss out on this
deal because I don’t think they’re going to offer it again.
It’s your ticket out of the snow. Or do you want to keep shovelling?
After a series of positive responses, they lead you down the garden
path and close the sale. The worst part is you helped them.
Nothing happens until you close the sale.
You don’t get any money until you close the sale.
Sales are based upon wants and needs. Scam artists will invent something you want or need, they don’t care.
They just want your money.
The next step is to create the illusion of an unbelievable deal. Something for nothing or next to nothing. Greed.
You need a vacation. Something you need or want.
Then next step is to create pressure or "deal heat"; “act now”, “first 100 callers”, “expires tomorrow”.
Then there’s the sales script: [edited]
Scam Artist:Hello, 1-800-Great-Trips-2-Florida, this is Jane speaking.
Consumer:I am calling about the Florida Vacation for $99, I got a flyer in the mail (or I found it on the internet).
Scam Artist: Do you have the Promotional Code.
Consumer: It’s 17890
Scam Artist: The promotion code entitles you to a 4 days and three night stay at the ********* Resort in Florida
including the weekend. Use of all the resorts amenities, like windsurfing, scuba diving and includes a meal
package for breakfast and dinner. This also includes airfare. In order to book you, I need a credit card number to
pay for the package, taxes, and the insurance.
Consumer: How much does all this come to?
Scam Artists: $399.78. $99 for the package, $245.78 for taxes, the taxes are charged based upon the cost of the
actual airfare and hotel. We have no control over taxes and the travel insurance is $54.22 and this covers
everything from missing the plane to having to cancel due to illness or emergency and will let you rebook later at
no additional cost.
Consumer: That sounds like a great deal.
Scam Artist: We’ve been putting this promotion together for some time and it expires today. Would you like to
book it now.
Consumer: Yes.
Scam Artists: Can I have your home address, with the postal code first.
Consumer: R1P 0FF
Scam Artist: That’s 22 Rip Off Lane, Ottawa
Consumer: Yes that’s correct. How did you know that?
Scam Artist: Your in our Preferred Customer database. (computer programs that ties addresses to postal codes)
Scam Artist: Can I have your credit card number.
Consumer: It’s 1234 5678 7890
Scam Artist: The expiry date.
Consumer: It’s 12/12
Scam Artists: I also need the confirmation number on the back of the card. It will be the last three or four digits. It
let’s us know it’s your card and prevents fraud.
Consumer: The numbers are 789
Scam Artists: We will mail the entire package out to you today, please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Consumer: Thank You.
Scam Artist: Thank You and I hope you enjoy your vacation.
End Call
You just got scammed and gave away your personal credit information.
Let’s Review The End Result of the Great Vacation Package:
You will be offered an unbelievable deal. In fact it seems too good to be true. This should be your first hint that
you are about to be scammed. You can go to Florida for $99, including airfare and stay at an all inclusive hotel
for 4 days and 3 nights. They just need a credit card to pay the taxes & insurance. You gladly give your credit
card number and are told the total cost will be $399.78. When you get your bill you notice a charge for
$1499.78. You freak out. You call and are informed the insurance company required a $1200.00 premium to
insure your trip because you are not a resident of Canada (if you live in Canada the excuse is you are not a US
resident).
Don’t be fooled there are criminals out there who train these scam phone room sales forces to do one thing sell,
sell, sell. You end up ripped off with the worst vacation ever or you get nothing.
Scams work by playing on a persons greed and their emotions. There is also “deal heat”, in other words you
need to act now. Getting something for nothing is the deal everyone wants. Criminals know this and exploit it.
These scam artists use persuasion by asking a series of questions that conditions a response that leads to the
close of the sale. They control the call by being upbeat and sounding excited they are able to bring you this great
deal.
Scam artists use pre-prepared scripts which condition a positive response right up to the closing of the sale. In
other words based upon the laws of probability some will follow the bait and some will simply hang up.
Here are some examples of getting a positive conditioned response: (emotions)
You need a vacation, right.
You sound like you need a break.
You deserve a break and this package ends today. You don’t want to miss out on this
deal because I don’t think they’re going to offer it again.
It’s your ticket out of the snow. Or do you want to keep shovelling?
After a series of positive responses, they lead you down the garden
path and close the sale. The worst part is you helped them.
| If It Sounds Like It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is Don’t Be A Victim |
| SCAMS |
THE ART OF THE SCAM
