Don’t ever be tempted to say "Yes!" to fast money offered by strangers on the phone. Or anywhere else.
Bob Sullivan writes about unsolicited phone calls from telemarketers offering such calls, "which seem to hint that recipients have a government tax refund coming," Sullivan writes.
The beginning of the story from Bob’s Red Tape Chronicles:
"You are a regular taxpayer," the caller says, "that’s why you are qualified to receive this $1,500. Are you interested in receiving $1,500?"
Consumers around the country are complaining about such unsolicited phone calls, which seem to hint that recipients have a government tax refund coming.
The firm placing the call, which identifies itself as Third Tier Financial, ushers recipients to websites with names like PayDayPickup.com, where they are instructed to divulge personal information, allegedly as a prelude to receiving the money. Then, the callers try to persuade recipients that it’s their lucky day.
“This money is not for everyone,” the “You are a regular taxpayer,” the caller says, “that’s why you are qualified to receive this $1,500. Are you interested in receiving $1,500?”
But the firm placing the calls had the bad luck of trying their pitch on retired journalist Jerry Trowbridge last week. Trowbridge was immediately suspicious, flipped on an audio recording device and informed the caller that he was taping their conversation.
Trowbridge – now a blogger at PBCLiberal.com based in Florida — has shared the recording with msnbc.com. It offers a rare glimpse into the methods and persistence of telemarketers with questionable sales pitches.
“If you just send in the application the money will be deposited into your account. That’s it. Ok?” the caller told Trowbridge.
During three separate calls that last a total of nearly 30 minutes, Trowbridge is pitched by at least four different people who mention the $1,500 payout no fewer than 20 times. As supervisors march to the phone, they become increasingly belligerent. One even hangs up on him.
“Don’t ask unnecessary questions,” he is scolded by one. “We won’t beg you to receive this money.”
Read the rest of the story here, along with a link to an extended audio recording of the calls.
