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Cramming is Top
Scam
"Cramming" -- billing consumers on their telephone
bills for services they never ordered -- has overtaken sweepstakes
and prize offers to become the No. 1 scam reported to the
National Fraud Information Center in 1998. The Center reports
that 44% of con artists are using the telephone bill as the
preferred method of payment.
According to the Center (a project of the National Consumers
League) the top five scams so far in 1998 are:
- Cramming
- Slamming (phone service switches to other carriers)
- Advance fees for loans (loan is never made)
- Sweepstakes and prize offers
- Work-at-Home kits (stuff envelopes, make jewelry, etc.)
based on false promises of big profits.
How To Fight Cramming
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Check
your telephone bill carefully, |
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If
you find a questionable charge, instruct your telephone
company to remove the charge, |
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If
the charge isn't removed, complain to the Federal Communications
Commission by calling (888) CALL-FCC. |
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[From our Sept/Oct and Summer 1998 Newsletters]
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