Take THAT scammers!
PhoenixWench
When I started, I was, to say the least, ill prepared, but I learned as
I went. Mostly it has been positive, but recently I realized I had been
victimized by an internet based scam, and not for the first time.
Apparently the first couple companies were so poor at their craft they
got taken out before they could do more than bill me. This time,
however, it was the totally unprofessional reaction of their 'customer
service rep' that twigged me to the possibility that I was being taken
for a ride.
I did an online search for "internet business listing scams" and boy did
I learn a lot! So I followed the instructions I found - complaints to
the BBB, the FTC and the AG's office. The next couple calls demanding
payment came too soon for the reports to have kicked in, so I just told
the SOB I was too busy to talk.
This morning, however, when he called again I was ready. He wanted to
know if he was going to get a payment this week. I simply said No and
hung up. And waited. Sure enough a minute later he called back and I let
the machine take it. I let him bluster and threaten, then picked up -
machine still running - and told him he was never going to see a red
cent from me, and to stop calling, because I had already reported his
scamming company to the BBB, the FTC etc. He tried one more time,
telling me I was out of line (Moi???) and I cut him off with a forceful,
but low voiced 'shut up!' and hung up on his threats.
A few minutes later a different voice called back saying that they were
closing my account, and because of my bad attitude they would not expect
payment and I would not hear from them again. HA!
So BOYCs all around to celebrate the whuppin' of a scammer(a bag of
Susie B's in the box) Whee!!!
I know that they will just change the name of the company and start up
again, but at least they won't be trying that $#!^ on me again, now that
they know I fight back <BEG>
--
PhoenixWench
Toleration is not the opposite of intolerance but the counterfeit of it.
Both are despotisms: the one assumes to itself the right of withholding
liberty of conscience, the other of granting it.
-- Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phoenixwench/
http://slywlf.livejournal.com/
http://phoenix-awaken.blogspot.com/
Cindy Wells
four as well.
Cindy Wells
David
<slySP...@hvc.rr.com> typed:
>As you might recall from previous threads, I own a tiny Catskills motel.
>When I started, I was, to say the least, ill prepared, but I learned as
>I went. Mostly it has been positive, but recently I realized I had been
>victimized by an internet based scam, and not for the first time.
>
Can we have some details so that others may become aware of the scam?
--
David
No email replies please.
Q:What is purple and concord the world? A:Alexander the Grape.
PhoenixWench
> On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:23:43 -0500, PhoenixWench
> <slySP...@hvc.rr.com> typed:
>
>> As you might recall from previous threads, I own a tiny Catskills motel.
>> When I started, I was, to say the least, ill prepared, but I learned as
>> I went. Mostly it has been positive, but recently I realized I had been
>> victimized by an internet based scam, and not for the first time.
>>
> Can we have some details so that others may become aware of the scam?
that two years earlier you (or an employee) had signed up for a two year
internet business listing (or sometimes a book will show up in the
mail), and now it is time to settle the account. Often the business
person is busy, assumes they forgot, or were not informed by the other
person.
First it's Panic! Then you complain of the high cost, and get offered a
reduction of often extortionate fees. Say they tell you the agreed fee
was $700, but they'll be kind and reduce it to $400. Such a reduction is
a relief, and often persuades the victim to pay up.
There are several sites that document this scam, and offer advice as to
coping, including
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Business-Internet-Directory-Telemarketing-Scam
http://internetscam.wordpress.com/2007/02/21/business-directory-scam/
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Internet-Marketing-Companies/Blue-Yellow-Book/blue-yellow-book-online-busine-m4577.htm
http://www.inflatablepromotions.com/target_publications/target_publications.htm
The one thing they all say is DON'T PAY and Report Them!
So that's exactly what I did ;-)
Wes Struebing
You sound so put out about it. (NOT!)
>So BOYCs all around to celebrate the whuppin' of a scammer(a bag of
>Susie B's in the box) Whee!!!
>
>I know that they will just change the name of the company and start up
>again, but at least they won't be trying that $#!^ on me again, now that
>they know I fight back <BEG>
Kewl! Go get 'em, tiger! (and I'll have something kinda
laxative-ish, Mike)
--
Wes Struebing
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America,
and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples,
promising liberty and justice for all.
Homepage: www.carpedementem.org
linkedin profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wesstruebing
Canth
<slySP...@hvc.rr.com> wrote:
>David wrote:
>> On Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:23:43 -0500, PhoenixWench
>> <slySP...@hvc.rr.com> typed:
>>
>>> As you might recall from previous threads, I own a tiny Catskills motel.
>>> When I started, I was, to say the least, ill prepared, but I learned as
>>> I went. Mostly it has been positive, but recently I realized I had been
>>> victimized by an internet based scam, and not for the first time.
>>>
>> Can we have some details so that others may become aware of the scam?
>Sure - they target small businesses. You get a phone call indicating
>that two years earlier you (or an employee) had signed up for a two year
>internet business listing (or sometimes a book will show up in the
>mail), and now it is time to settle the account. Often the business
>person is busy, assumes they forgot, or were not informed by the other
>person.
>
>First it's Panic! Then you complain of the high cost, and get offered a
>reduction of often extortionate fees. Say they tell you the agreed fee
>was $700, but they'll be kind and reduce it to $400. Such a reduction is
>a relief, and often persuades the victim to pay up.
>
This is a well established car sales gimmick. Its called reciprocity.
Most people have a natural instinct to reciprocate to a perceived
benefit/gift/kindness. Car salesmen always have a small giveaway
ready to initiate the sequence.
>There are several sites that document this scam, and offer advice as to
>coping, including
>http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Business-Internet-Directory-Telemarketing-Scam
>http://internetscam.wordpress.com/2007/02/21/business-directory-scam/
>http://www.ripoffreport.com/Internet-Marketing-Companies/Blue-Yellow-Book/blue-yellow-book-online-busine-m4577.htm
>http://www.inflatablepromotions.com/target_publications/target_publications.htm
>
>The one thing they all say is DON'T PAY and Report Them!
>So that's exactly what I did ;-)
And as a scam it has been practiced for more than thirty years to my
knowledge. There were warnings of business directory scams going
around in the 1970s. You don't even need to be a small business; one
enterprising individual was trying it on government departments in the
70s.
Other variations are to ring up a small business & "just get a quick
approval of your artwork." The person receiving the phone call is
usually a receptionist or secretary, who assumes the artwork is real &
has been ordered. Then a bill arrives for the "approved artwork as
discussed.", although the artwork doesn't.
AS! ds++:+++ a++ c+++ p++ t+ f-- S+ p+ e++ h++ r++ n++ i+ P+ m++ M
Hanging Jester
@news.eternal-september.org:
> <snip>
> payment and I would not hear from them again. HA!
>
> So BOYCs all around to celebrate the whuppin' of a scammer(a bag of
> Susie B's in the box) Whee!!!
>
> I know that they will just change the name of the company and start up
> again, but at least they won't be trying that $#!^ on me again, now that
> they know I fight back <BEG>
Good going! I detest scammers (especially internet scammers,) and whenever
possble, I turn them in also.
~ Jester
David
I'll agree with Canth. That one has been around for years. I seem to
remember some publicity about it in the sixties. I'm glad you didn't
fall for it.
--
David
No email replies please.
Q:How many IBM 370's does it take to execute a job? A:Four, three to
hold it down, and one to rip its head off.
Chris Zakes
caused Canth <kwar...@bigpond.net.au> to write:
(snip)
>Other variations are to ring up a small business & "just get a quick
>approval of your artwork." The person receiving the phone call is
>usually a receptionist or secretary, who assumes the artwork is real &
>has been ordered. Then a bill arrives for the "approved artwork as
>discussed.", although the artwork doesn't.
I used to work as a purchasing agent, and got that sort of call
occasionally. The most common was someone claiming to be our "copier
supply representative." He "wanted to make sure all our supplies where
up-to-date" but needed me to go get the seial number off the copier.
I, (knowing this was a scam) would innocently ask why he didn't have
that information in the file in front of him, and would string it out
until I got bored and hung up. If I managed to make *him* hang up in
frustration or because he realized I was on to him, I scored a point.
There were similar scams involving "our lightbulb supplier" or office
supply companies that "sent me a free gift, but the UPS truck ran over
it, so we want to send it again... but we need a small order from you
to cover the shipping."
Yeah, right. As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is.
-Chris Zakes
Texas
The wise man does not seek enlightenment, he waits for it. So while I was
waiting, it occurred to me that seeking perplexity might be more fun.
-Lu-Tze in "Thief of Time" by Terry Pratchett
cycjec
> As you might recall from previous threads, I own a tiny Catskills motel.
Yes, I recall.
> So BOYCs all around to celebrate the whuppin' of a scammer(a bag of
> Susie B's in the box) Whee!!!
Congratulations. I hope you shared your technique and triumph
with other business folk.
cycjec
> This is a well established car sales gimmick. Its called reciprocity.
> Most people have a natural instinct to reciprocate to a perceived
> benefit/gift/kindness. Car salesmen always have a small giveaway
> ready to initiate the sequence.
*THE BOOK* on this and other topics is Robert Cialdini's
_Influence_ He's been in the news somewhat recently,
but that's irrelevant to the usefulness of this book.
One of the few I recommend ppl buy in duplicate. It's
about the techniques of influence. The online summaries
aren't as good as the book.
PhoenixWench
can find info on, with the request that they pass it on to those they
know. With a bit of information pretty soon the whole Hudson Valley will
be scammer-immune if I have anything to say about it!
As I noted initially, my business savvy was minimal going into this
motel, having spent the past 25 years working in a cubicle. I was pretty
much insulated from problems like this as a lower level cog. The
learning curve has been interesting, but you know what they say... fool
me once etc.
John W. Vinson
>Sure - they target small businesses. You get a phone call indicating
>that two years earlier you (or an employee) had signed up for a two year
>internet business listing
Heh.
<Click> without response at this point in the first call.
Threats of FCC, Idaho Attorney General, etc. if they're damn fool enough to
call again.
--
John the Wysard JVinson *at* Wysard Of Info *dot* com