A 77-year-old Richmond woman is warning others to beware after a fake telemarketer delivered a foul-mouthed tirade after she refused to cut a cheque for almost $400.
The woman, who asked not to be named, told the Richmond News how, after receiving notification in the mail that she’d won a $4 million sweepstakes prize, she was plagued for weeks with calls from the same man. After initially placating the man, going by the name James Anderson and calling from a 315 New York area code, in the hope that he would stop calling, she was eventually asked for $399 to process her jackpot prize.
And when she told the telemarketer she didn’t have that kind of money, it was suggested she borrow it from a family member or friend.
Finally realizing she was being scammed, the woman promptly informed him that she “wouldn’t even give him $5.”
“That’s when he got really abusive,” the senior said.
“He was calling me all kinds of names and I was kind of shaken up a little at first.
“I hung up the phone, but he called me back several times in about a 45-minute period and was very nasty.”
Worried that other seniors were being subjected to the same kind of pressure and abuse and unsure who to report it to, the woman called The News in a bid to alert people to the fraud.
She also reported the incident to Richmond RCMP who advised her, if she receives more calls, to tell the caller that the police and newspaper have been informed of their activities.
The woman said the mail prize notification used words such as “Strike it Rich,” “Sweepstakes” and “Grand Prize.”
It also claimed to be affiliated to the “National Magazine” which had a Florida address.
When The News called the number belonging to the man who had been pestering the Richmond senior, no one answered.
Moments later, a man calling himself Anton — with what sounded like a Caribbean accent — called back with the company name of “Falcon Services” displayed on the caller I.D.
IF YOU GET A FRAUDULENT CALL:
The RCMP is involved in a National Task Force, known as the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre, that was established to combat telemarketing fraud.
Here are a few basic suggestions from the centre:
Don’t believe that everyone calling with an exciting promotion or investment opportunity is trustworthy, especially if you do not know the caller or his or her company;
Don’t invest or purchase a product or service without carefully checking out the product, service and the company;
Don’t be afraid to request further documentation from the caller so you can verify the validity of the company;
Don’t be fooled by the promise of a valuable prize in return for a low-cost purchase;
Don’t be pressured to send money to take advantage of a “special offer or deal;”
Don’t disclose information about your finances, bank accounts or credit cards;
Don’t be afraid to hang-up the phone.
*DO, however, contact the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre toll-free at 1-888-495-8501, or write to Box 686, North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8.
