Beware of Door to Door Salesmen - East Idaho News
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Beware of Door to Door Salesmen

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(IDAHO FALLS, ID)  —  As the weather warms up, you can expect those knocks on your door.   Someone trying to sell you something.   There are scam-artists out there, and they will prey upon YOUR emotions to get you to buy from them.   As per usual, Idaho’s President of the Better Business Bureau, Dale Dixon, joined Tim Lewis on Friday’s IMN to talk about the latest scams.

Hear that interview here:  [audio:https://www.eastidahonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Dale-Dixon-June-22.mp3|titles=Dale Dixon June 22]

More info:

Watch out for high-pressure door-to-door magazine sales
Better Business Bureau serving the Snake River Region receives complaints each year from area residents who unknowingly buy multi-year magazine subscriptions from door-to-door marketers.BBB warns that deceptive door-to-door magazine sales crews are hitting the pavement and looking to earn a quick buck this summer.

Unscrupulous marketers often trick residents into paying hundreds of dollars for multi-year subscriptions to magazines they do not want or cannot afford.

Here’s how to handle door-to-door magazine offers:

Listen carefully and be aware of high-pressure sales tactics. Some unscrupulous door-to-door sellers will put pressure on you to close the deal at that moment and even make special offers to entice you. Find a way to end the conversation quickly to avoid long, high-pressure sales pitches. Be aware of sympathy pitches from the sales person.

Verify the person and the company. If you are interested in buying from a door-to-door seller, get everything in writing including price, warranty and all conditions. Tell the salesperson you will check the information and get back to him or her. Ask for contact information and look the company up yourself to verify this person is an employee. Also, take the time to check out the company’s Business Review at bbb.org.

Know your rights. The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $25 that are made in their home or at a place that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. Along with a receipt, salespeople should also include a completed cancellation form that customers can send to the company to cancel the agreement. By law, the company must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.

If you feel uncomfortable about the sales person, call your local law enforcement. Most cities have soliciting laws, and are enforced by the police departments.

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Check out Facebook profile? Too bad, it’s a scam
Heads up, Facebook users! Facebook never intends to create a way for a user to see who has viewed their profile. If an application claims to do so, do not trust it.Once you allow access, the app will begin posting on your page telling others to download the app. The app also has the potential to get personal information from your profile.

How the Scam Works

Apps such as “Facebook Profile Viewer” and “Profile Visitor” are sending users messages stating that Facebook has a new update enabling them to see who has viewed their profile. If you click on the given link, you are asked to allow the app to have access to your profile.

Tips to Avoid Falling for this Scam:

• Review all of your installed Facebook applications periodically
• Always be cautious when allowing applications access to your profile
• Remember that Facebook will never enable users to see who has viewed their profile; any application claiming to do so is a scam
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A new scam is sweeping the nation by claiming that President Obama will pay your utility bills through a new federal program.
Customers of utility business FirstEnergy Corp. have reported the scam, and several other energy companies issued warnings to
their customers about it.
How the Scam Works:
Consumers have been contacted in person and through fliers, social media and text messages with claims that President Obama
is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.
To receive the money, scammers claim they need the consumers’ social security and bank routing numbers. In return, customers
are given a phony bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills. In reality, there is no money, and customers
believe they have paid their bills when in fact they have not.
Tips to Avoid Falling for this Scam:
Never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the
phone or at your home unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with whom you are speaking.
If you receive a call claiming to be your utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal
information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have
scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. Also, ask utility employees for proper identification.
Always think safety first. Do not give in to high pressure tactics over the phone for information or in person to get into your
home.

 

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