I think someone just tried to scam me

[VelmaD]

I got what sounded like a telemarketing call on Easter morning from someone claiming to be with some Department of Public Safety officers association. My first clue was when he said I had given money in the past. That doesn't sound like me. My second clue was that he really didn't want to just send me info in the mail and let me decide whether to send money...he really wanted an amount NOW. The last clue...he hung up when I offered to give him my new address. Yup. Definintely scammage.

[MrModerate]

1. You're almost certainly right . . .

Sometimes these guys hoodwink local cops into letting them "fundraise" for them, not realizing that the scammers will take almost all the money for "administration" and give the cops' charity pennies.

Sometimes they're just crooks. They trade on the fact that most people want to help the cops and that others are afraid to offend the cops, so they rake it in.

If you're interested, check with your local authorities. Five'll get you ten they'll tell you it's a con game.

[VelmaD]

2. What pisses me off...

is that someone somewhere will fall for it today and just give out there checking account of credit card info to some weasel. :(

[Floogeldy]

10. Bingo!

I actually worked for one of these companies for a few days back in the 70's. A local police department in my area raised money to send disabled children to the circus every year. For example, they would raise $5,000 with cops manning the phones.

What happens is these companies come in and say, "We guarantee to raise $10,000." Then, they will raise $20,000 and pocket half of it.

[Aiptasia]

3. what's even worse is...

Now telemarketers are starting to record conversations and cut and paste the conversation so that it sounds like you may indeed want to order whatever crap they're hawking, but in reality, you did no such thing. For example:

"Hi.. This is Mr. X with so and so brands, and we're offering a special promotion in which you can receive..."

"yeah.. wait.. I'm sure I don't want any. Thanks!" (hang up)

Cut cut, splice splice. Then they mail you the junk and send it all the same.

"But we have you on tape.. saying "Yeah.. i'm sure I want. Thanks!"

[mcscajun]

4. Indeed. You should never use any affirmative whatsoever.

No, Not Interested. Don't call here again. (click)

That can't be 'spun.

You've got No need to be your usual 'polite' on these calls.

[short bus president]

5. ah, but that wasn't on the list, was it?

Lessee...

No pissing, no clown makeup, no scat - I can see how they might've thought scams were OK...

:P

[VelmaD]

6. You left out...

no ice cube enemas. But I see your point about how they might get confused. ;)

[HEyHEY]

7. Just gimmie the FUCKING MONEY!

I'm trying to buy a new TV here

[progmom]

8. Do you have caller ID?

[Technowitch]

9. That won't help

These telemarketers and scammers always have themselves listed as 'Private' or 'Blocked'.

[aePrime]

11. That reminds me of a call I got a couple of months ago

Some guy called, and said I was randomly picked to receive $10,000 from the government. I was immediately suspicious. I asked him how I was randomly picked, and he said that they used the previous year's tax returns. I'm a college student; I don't make much money. At that time, I hadn't filed taxes for the previous two years because I wasn't required (not enough income), and I'm quite lazy, even if I would have gotten something back (I filed this year with my new wife).

I told him I hadn't filed for the previous two years, and he just said, "Ahh, well, you're lucky!" I told him I wasn't interested, though I kind of wish I had stayed on to see what he wanted from me.

[hickman1937]

12. I was contacted by someone with a very heavy

east indian accent about a credit card offer, I thought. I said mail me the info. I never gave them any credit card numbers. 2 days later 200 dollars was charged to my credit card. I called the number on my statement, and found out that they were some kind of discount company. I demanded my money back, then called Capital One to find out where they got my cc numbers from. Guy that answered had, you got it, a very heavy east indian accent. Something is going on and I'm going to get to the bottom of it.