Latest Buzz on Popular Scams

Telemarketers have always had the status of being a couple of notches below used car salesman. As an industry they fought the Federal Do Not Call List, but eventually it became law and the legit telemarketers stopped calling the numbers on the DNC list. The law also requires that telemarketers include a caller ID when making calls. Scammers usually block the caller ID, so if you don't see a caller ID it's a scammer.

Even if you have put your phone number(s) on the DNC list (and it is past thirty-days) and still get annoying 'sales' calls chances are those sales calls are from scammers. [We should point out that some organizations are not required to check phone numbers against the DNC list.]

If you would like to know more about the caller's scam check the number at 800notes.com.

There's a scam that appears to target grandmothers. A grandchild calls granny claiming that they are in some sort of trouble and need money for bail, money to get home, etc. The amount is typically around a few thousand dollars and the money needs to be wired. Most often the caller claims to be either on the opposite coast from where granny lives, but not necessarily. The callers claim to be phoning from Canada or from a U.S. that borders Canada. Because the callers are most likely Canadian citizens; making it difficult for U.S. law-enforcement to apprehend the con artist. Of course anyone of any age is a target for the con.