Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a warning to Minnesotans about how to spot – and avoid – telemarketing fraud.  The warning is part of the Attorney General’s monthly Scam Stopper series, aiming to help protect Minnesota consumers from common scams.

Telemarketing scammers work hard to exploit individuals – particularly that of more vulnerable adults, or seniors of a generation used to doing business on a handshake. Telemarketing scammers abuse the trust of folks. Here’s what people should watch for: 

• High-pressure sales tactics that ask you to make an immediate decision 
• Computer messages warning you of a virus and directing you to an unfamiliar help line or software vendor 
• Messages informing you of prize contests or sweepstakes you’ve won, but never entered 
• Asks for donations to unfamiliar charities 
• Suspicious calls purporting to be from a familiar company, asking for personal information or additional payment

It is essential that Minnesotans report scams to the Attorney General’s Office or to law enforcement. Many people feel embarrassed when a scam happens to them, but the truth is that con artists and scammers are often professionals with years of experience. They are good at what they do, and they count on people feeling too embarrassed to protect others by speaking out. If a scam happens to you, the best thing to do is report it right away.  

If a telemarketing scam happens to you, here are a few steps to take: 

• Promptly notify your local law enforcement agency 
• Keep copies of all communications with the scammer 
• File a complaint with the Office of Attorney General Keith Ellison online at ag.state.mn.us or on the phone at (651) 296-3353 for Twin Cities residents and (800) 657-3787 for people in Greater Minnesota.

Descriptive transcript

[Video opens with a video of Attorney General Keith Ellison, wearing a tan suit with a dark red shirt underneath. He stands in front of a bookcase with thick legal volumes lining the shelves. He speaks while the ASL talent signs. Burned-on subtitles in white across the bottom.]

 >> Keith: Hey friends, Keith Ellison here, Minnesota Attorney General and the People's Lawyer.

[Video transitions to a picture in picture window of the ASL signer on bottom right corner with a photo of the state capitol as the main background image. Rolling text on the image: “Scam ! Stopper from the Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison” Graphic on either side of the title are of the scales of justice and the Minnesota state outline.] 

[Music] 

[Video transitions back to Keith.]

>> Keith: My job is to help people afford their lives and live with dignity,  safety, and respect. You can't live with dignity, safety, and respect if you fall victim to telemarketing fraud. These people might get you through the mail, the phone, or the internet, and believe me, it's big business—about $40 billion a year—because of this telemarketing fraud. 

These people are professionals, they're good, and you have to give them credit for the crookedness that they engage in. They're so good that they sometimes take people in,  but you don't want to be their victim. So, let's talk about that a little bit. 

First of all, they take advantage of people. They take advantage of people's trust. Some of our neighbors, particularly some of our seniors, grew up in a time when you could trust people and do business on a handshake. Those days are over, and we want to make sure you know how to protect yourself from these telemarketer fraudsters. 

Let's talk about their tactics. Number one, these people use high-pressure sales tactics. They make you think that you've got to have their product now. No, you don't. The reality is, if there's something you need, even if you need it right away, you can initiate and look for the product yourself. If they're calling you, telling you that you've got to have this and to give them your information now,  they're probably using a high-pressure sales tactic, which is a telltale sign of fraud. 

Oftentimes, they offer phony sweepstakes or  prizes. Most legitimate businesses don't do that,  and that's another red flag that there's a fraud coming up. 

Another thing is that sometimes they ask for donations from non-existent charities. At the Minnesota Attorney General's Office,  we have a registration database for all the  charities. If you want to know if this is a legit charity, you can ask us. Ask around,  ask your friends. If they're calling you and soliciting you, make sure it's  a real charity before you give them your money. 

They also ask for your personal information. The reality is, when people start asking you for your Social Security number and you didn't call them, it's probably not good. 

Sometimes they buy data that has your name on it, and when they buy that data, they will try to pretend that they’re a company you did business with before. So,  you want to make sure you check that. 

They also might try to open up a fake account  in your name, so be careful about that too. 

Now, here's how to avoid the scammers. 

First of all, know what's going on and what the signs are. Also, don't send money orders or prepaid gift cards to people—that's a telltale sign.  Legitimate businesses don't really do that, so be aware. 

Number two, if you're told about a computer virus, don't send them anything. Go to a trusted repair shop. You can look them up—there are a lot of them out there. Generally, these computer virus scams are just trying to get your data and information. 

Number three, don't give personal information to people you don't know. Call them back at a number you trust to confirm. If anybody wants your Social Security number, don't give it to them. We don't give our Social Security number over the phone, we don’t give our credit card number over the phone, we don't do those kinds of things—it's not a good idea. Legitimate businesses tend not to do this.

Then, you want to ask for an offer or contract materials in writing. You want to make sure you have written material so that you can really look it over and take your time. 

And this is very important: always be ready to walk away.  If the deal doesn't feel right or there's too much pressure, just say, "Thank you, I’m done with this conversation," and hang up. 

Of course, ask around. Do your homework. Your friends and family are often a good source of information for products and services that you might want. 

Now, if you've been a victim of a scam, first thing—don't be embarrassed. Speak up. By speaking up, you're going to help us shine a light on these scams and find the people who are doing these bad things. Give us a call at our office. I'll give you the number in a moment. But if you speak up, you can help a lot of people. 

These scammers know that people get embarrassed when they're victims of scams, and they’re going to try to use your embarrassment or shame to silence you. Shining a light on these tactics can help stop the next scammer.

Reach out to my office. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has a whole group of experts in the area of consumer protection who can help you. We call them the Consumer Action Team, and you can reach them at 651-296-3353 (or at ag.state.mn.us). 

So, thank you for listening. This is another edition of Scam Stoppers, looking out for your paycheck, your family's budget, and your income. Thank you and stay safe.

[Video transitions to the title slide with the state capitol and the rolling trite text. Subtitle in white across the bottom of the closing slide, “American Sign Language provided by Diego Ozuna-Clark, Keystone Interpreting Solutions, and the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing.]

[Video ends.]