National Consumers League /National Fraud Information Center / January 2004

Top Ten Telemarketing Scams
  1. Credit card offers False promises of credit cards, even if credit is bad, for a fee paid upfront
  1. Prizes/sweepstakes Request for payment based on promise of cash or valuable prizes that never materialize
  1. Work at home plans Kits sold on false promises of big profits from working at home
  1. Magazine sales scams Con artists misrepresent the cost of subscriptions or pretend to be the publisher calling about renewals
  1. Advance fee loans False promises of personal or business loans, even if credit is bad, for a fee paid upfront
  1. Lotteries/lottery clubs False claims that consumers have won, or can get help to win, a lottery, often in a foreign country
  1. Buyers clubs Memberships in discounts buying clubs consumers never agreed to join or through were free trail offers
  1. Travel/vacations Offers of free or discount travel that never materialize
  1. Telephone slamming Switch consumers’ phone service to another carrier without their consent
  1. Business opportunities /franchises Offers to help you start your own business with claims of high earnings with little effort

2003

  • Average loss: $1,504
  • Total loss $1,764,433  

2002

  • Average loss: $845
  • Total loss $1,904,033

2003

%

Average loss ($)

 

 

 

1.      Credit card offers

23%

233

2.      Prizes/sweepstakes

21%

3,031

3.      Work at home plans

10%

392

4.      Magazine sales scams

7%

110

5.      Advance fee loans

6%

1,662

6.      Lotteries/lottery clubs

5%

5,127

7.      Buyers clubs

4%

225

8.      Travel/vacations

2%

571

9.      Telephone slamming

2%

103

10.  Business opportunities/
franchises

2%

5,376

2002

%

Average loss ($)

 

 

 

1.          Credit card offers

27%

208

2.          Work at home plans

18%

310

3.          Prizes/
sweepstakes

16%

2,379

4.          Advance fee loans

8%

1,147

5.          Magazine sales scams

5%

183

6.          Buyers clubs

4%

169

7.          Telephone slamming

2%

186

8.          Lotteries/lottery clubs

2%

5,272

9.          Travel/vacations

2%

562

10.      Nigerian money offers

2%

None

Age

2003

2002

Under 20

--

--

20-29

13%

16%

30-39

17%

19%

40-49

20%

22%

50-59

16%

16%

60-69

11%

12%

70-79

13%

9%

80+

10%

6%