Is Teleguard, Telenetworx, or Smart America Services Calling? Hang Up!

MSNBC - July 18, 2002

Con Artists Use 'Suckers List' Database

Getting scammed is a bummer. You beat yourself up wondering why you weren't smart enough to see through their tricks. Getting scammed twice has got to feel a lot worse.

Some telemarketing scam artists apparently have created a list of previous fraud victims and are trying to scam them again. Their pitch is that they can recover the money that was stolen in the first fraud, if they sign up for the Teleguard service and pay a fee. They try to create an air of authenticy by stating that they're working with the Better Business Bureau or a state Attorney General's office.

So how can you tell if the people who call you are legit or not?

USE YOUR BRAIN!

Listen how Robert Kenesky, 81, of Sanborn, NY used his brain to fight fraud. The scammers tried to prove they were legitmate by putting him on hold for a few moments and then connecting him with someone who said they were from the New York Attorney General's office. His response?

"This guy rattled on for a while, and then I said, 'Now wait a minute. If this is the attorney general's office, I know it takes longer than 1 minute to get through to you people.'"

Then he hung up the phone. Very smart.