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A concerned citizen, Mary Poe, called the Herald Independent recently to inform our staff of a flim-flam operation going on by telephone.

Though Winnsboro Public Safety was unaware of persons perpetrating a crime by offering free $200 gasoline vouchers by phone, Winnsboro Public Safety Chief Freddie Lorick did confirm that several months back there was a report of a flim-flam via telephone involving someone claiming to be awarding $100 Wal-Mart gift certificates.

That operation requested the caller provide a credit card number to cover the postage on the card.

Instead of receiving a gift card, the Winnsboro resident’s credit card number was stolen. She then said she could no longer use her debit card because 32 transactions had been made in a 32-minute period.

Residents should beware any phone call that requests credit card information to be given over the phone, particularly if the call is unsolicited.

“We have had some situations with people calling from other countries and doing flim-flams here in the past,” Lorick said. “The callers prey on a person’s financial need and all it takes is one moment of weakness or confusion for a person to be scammed.”

The FBI also offers the following warning signs of telemarketing fraud.

If a caller says:

• You must act ‘now’ or the offer won’t be good.

• You’ve won a “free” gift, vacation, or prize. But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.

• You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number or have a check picked up by courier. You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.

• You don’t need to check out the company with anyone. The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau or consumer protection agency.

• You don’t need any written information about their company or their references.

• You can’t afford to miss this “high-profit, no-risk” offer.

The FBI advises on its website that residents simply say no thank you and hang up the phone if they hear those statements.

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:

It’s very difficult to get your money back if you’ve been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:

•Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.

•Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true.

•Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center or other watchdog groups. •Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.

•Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.

•Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.

•Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”

•Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered.

•Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.

•Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision.

•Don’t pay for a “free prize.” If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.

•Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of financial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone.

•Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member or financial advisor. It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer.

•Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly.

•Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.

•Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.

•If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.

•If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local or federal law enforcement agencies.

(Source: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/fraud#telmkt)