Told through the eyes of victims, scam artists, and US government regulators, Fleeced! reveals an underworld brotherhood of telemarketing schemers who can learn your buying habits, and even your credit rating.
What are your chances of falling prey to these phone sharks? More than 50 million Americans have responded to suspect telemarketing deals. Often these individuals are trusting senior citizens (the frequent victims of telemarketing rip-offs), investors looking for a get-rich quick business deal, or people struggling to break free of debt - sheep just wanting to be fleeced. These smooth talkers can convince the unwary to purchase thousands of dollars worth of cheap merchandise or bilk them out of their life savings. They can steal money from check accounts and misuse credit card numbers - and get away with it.
What should you know about telephone scams? How can you tell if a telemarketer is legitimate? Can you rely on law enforcement agencies to shut down illegal operations? How can you protect yourself from these intrusive calls?
Although the stories told in this book are about experiences in America, there is no reason to believe that the public in the United Kingdom are immune to such practices. It is likely that many of the scams described in this book are being used in this country - and if they aren't, they soon will be. Fleeced! will help you understand telephone fraud and show you how to protect yourself or a loved one from becoming a victim of the phone bandits.
361 pages
ISBN 0-87975-963-1