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Difference between revisions of "Prize and Contest Scams"
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==Prize and contest scams== | |||
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You are told that you “have won first prize” or that you "have won first place in a contest". The scammer will tell you that you’ve won something substantial (such as a large sum of money or a great prize) and that all you have to do is send them money to claim the prize. Or they may not even tell you what the prize is. | You are told that you “have won first prize” or that you "have won first place in a contest". The scammer will tell you that you’ve won something substantial (such as a large sum of money or a great prize) and that all you have to do is send them money to claim the prize. Or they may not even tell you what the prize is. | ||
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*Be wary about responding to text messages or missed calls that come from numbers you don’t recognise. | *Be wary about responding to text messages or missed calls that come from numbers you don’t recognise. | ||
{{ | ==Door-to-Door Scams== | ||
While legitimate businesses sell things through door-to-door marketing, scammers also use this approach. The scammers typically employ high pressure sales tactics to get you to agree to contract services such as roofing, paving or heating. | |||
The work will be substandard, the bill will include items you did not agree to, their “money-back guarantee” will be worthless, and there will be no way to contact them later. Sometimes scammers pretend to conduct a survey so they can get your personal details or to disguise their sales pitch until they have been talking to you for a while. | |||
===What you can do=== | |||
Door-to-door scammers will not give you value for your money. If you are interested in a door-to-door sale, get the name and location of the company. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau. See the [[Sources of Help for Consumers]] section for contact details. Insist on a written contract and take the time to check it out. If you are feeling pressured, do not sign anything. Close the door. | |||
Under BC law, if you sign a door-to-door sales contract, you have 10 days to cancel by advising the company. | |||
Report suspicious door-to-door sales to Consumer Protection BC at 1-888-564-9963 or [http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca www.consumerprotectionbc.ca]. | |||
==Relative scams== | |||
This phone scam targets grandparents or other senior relatives. Posing as a young family member in distress, the scammer claims to have been in a car accident, or to need bail money right away. Usually the scammer asks you to wire several thousand dollars. A caller might say, "Grandma, do you know who this is?" Sometimes scammers have researched Facebook profiles for details about family members. | |||
===What you can do=== | |||
Seniors should always check the story with other family members before they take any action. Report suspected scammers to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or [http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca]. | |||
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