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Unsolicited phone calls/telemarketing fraud
Fraudulent telemarketing calls can occur on wireless phones, just as they do on your traditional
landline phone. While there isn't much you can do to stop anyone from calling you besides asking
not to be contacted again, here are some ways to lessen the aggravation as well as protect
yourself from fraudulent telemarketing schemes.
- Don't disclose your wireless phone number to anyone other than friends, family, business contacts and other trusted sources.
- If you receive a call from an unknown number, you can let it go to voice mail. If it's something important, the caller will leave you a message with a contact number.
- If you do pick up a call from a telemarketer, make sure you don't give them any personal information over the phone
- If the phone calls become harrassing, you can file a police report.
TELUS Mobility respects your privacy
As a TELUS Mobility client, you can be assured that we never disclose our clients' wireless
phone numbers to anyone without our clients' permission. TELUS Mobility client telephone
numbers are included in telephone directories only at client request.
Please see Section 8 of our service terms for details on confidentiality.
Examples of telemarketing schemes
Prize offers: You usually have to do something
to get your "free" prize, like attend a sales presentation, buy something, pay a fee,
or give out a credit card number. The prizes are often worthless or overpriced.
At the end of the message, it may give the option to press a number to be removed
from the calling list, but there is no assurance that this really functions or not.
Don't press the key, as this indicates to the system that is has connected.
Travel packages: "Free" or "low cost" vacations can end up costing a bundle in hidden costs, or they may never happen. You may pay a high
price for some part of the package such as hotel or airfare. The total cost may run two to three times more than what you'd expect to pay, or what you were led to believe.
Investments: People lose millions of dollars each year on "get rich quick" schemes that promise high returns with little or no risk. These can include movies, cable television, Internet gambling, rare coins, art, and other "investment opportunities." These schemes vary, but one thing is consistent: Unscrupulous promoters rely on the fact that investing can be complicated, and many people don't research the investment process.
If you suspect that you have been targeted in a fraudulent telemarketing scheme, please contact the local police.
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