Home : Blogs : Eileen Landau, ABR, CRS, e-PRO : Move UP to Naperville Blog #2

Telephone Scams

I have been receiving calls and messages on my cell phone number. It was put on the do not call list long ago.

These callers/companies are making illegal calls and illegal offers. How do I know? Google is my friend.

Whenever I receive a toll-free number or one that I'm not familar with, I do a Google search and a reverse phone search. That generally brings me several pages of information regarding these sleazy callers. And, believe me, they are sleazy.

In fact, one California company was raided in 2007 by the FBI as they were stealing identities. As a result The Federal Trade Commission sued them and the results were filed January 17, 2008, in which the court said that they (the company) was to disclose all the fees and expenses that they would charge. But, from what I'm getting, it hasn't stopped them.

So, if the following numbers come up on your caller ID, don't answer: 877-218-0169 and 978-513-2256.

And, yes, you can file a complaint at www.donotcall.gov

Posted by Eileen Landau, ABR, CRS, e-PRO on 06/03/2008 10:25 PM

Comments (6)

phone scams, do not call list, google searches, reverse phone search, naperville real estate

6 Comments on Telephone Scams

JUN

2008

I get a lot of calls where the Id is unkown or private, usually a company trying to sell something. I tell them I will check them out first

That's a great way to protect yourself. Some of the time, if I don't recognize the number, outside my area, I will let it go through to my voice mail. I figure if it's that important they will leave me a message.

You really need to be careful today with all the shady things going on. It's not just the phone, it's the internet as well. I will usually never order anything from an incoming phone call. If it sounds good, I will ask for either more information to be mailed to me, ask for a website, or even just a number I can call them back. This way it give me time to do my research and decided based on more information that what they will provide on a call.

JUN

2008

But Eileen, "I work with (insert major search engine here) and I couldn't find your website on the first page of blah blah blah."

I get these all the time too, very frustrating to say the least.

JUN

2008

Lately I have been receiving invitations to join "reunion.com" They want to know my exact date of birth? Any idea whether this is a scam too?

www.GregZaccagni.com

Hi Greg,

I'm always cautious about companies asking for my "exact date of birth."

Reunion.com is not a scam...you can go to the website and sign up. If you want to protect yourself, use a different birth date...but, do indicate your high school graduation date.

They keep a pretty good list of people who graduated from my high school. And, as we're planning a reunion for '09 it's handy to be able to post and contact people.

JUN

2008

Eileen:

Thanks for the info & suggestion about the birthdate. Still wounder why they ask for the exact day? Why can't they be satisfied with the year and perhaps the month?

www.GregZaccagni.com

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