HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD & SCAMS

THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) IS CONCERNED THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FALLING PREY TO SCAMS. AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS TO THEIR OFFICES ABOUT AUTOMOBILE, INTERNET, BUSINESS AND OTHER SCAMS, HAS LED TO THE COMPILATION OF THIS 11-STEP LIST, WHICH THE CAC BELIEVES WILL ASSIST YOU IN REDUCING YOUR CHANCES OF BEING A VICTIM OF FRAUD.

1. CHECK THEIR COMPLAINTS RECORD AT THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSION
CALL THE CAC AND ASK HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AGAINST A PARTICULAR COMPANY, THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED (WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT) AND HOW MANY ARE OUTSTANDING, HOW MANY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND HOW MANY ARE CLOSED DUE TO THE VENDOR’S NON-COMPLIANCE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO FORM YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE BUSINESS’ LEGITIMACY AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE COMPANY IN QUESTION. IF THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE A RECORD WITH THE COMMISSION, DO NOT MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL IS WELL, INSTEAD PROCEED TO THE OTHER STEPS WITH MORE VIGILANCE.

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH.
DO NOT PART WITH YOUR CASH BEFORE ASCERTAINING THE LEGITIMACY OF THE BUSINESS. YOU MAY DO THIS BY CHECKING WITH THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, TO SEE IF THEY ARE LISTED, OR VISIT THE ADVERTISED ADDRESS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY OPERATING FROM THAT LOCATION. IF THE BUSINESS IS BASED OVERSEAS, CONTACT THE RELEVANT EMBASSY AND VERIFY THEIR EXISTENCE. AT THE VERY LEAST, ASK YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN OR WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE BUSINESS.

3. BE WARY OF CLAIMS THAT SOUND-TOO-GOOD-TO-BE-TRUE
THERE IS NO PILL THAT ALLOWS YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT PERMANENTLY WITHOUT PROPER DIET AND EXERCISE; EMPLOYMENT SERVICES CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU A JOB; AND THERE IS NO SURE THING WHEN RISK IS INVOLVED. SO WHEN YOU HEAR PROMISES, ASK YOURSELF WHETHER THESE PROMISES ARE REALISTIC, REMEMBER ‘IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY ISN’T TRUE AND IS MOST LIKELY A SCAM’.

4. READ CONTRACTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION CAREFULLY.
ENSURE YOU UNDERSTAND EVERY DETAIL! GET HELP TO UNDERSTAND THE FINE PRINT AND OTHER DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT. PLEASE READ ALL DOCUMENTATION AND DO NOT BE FOOLED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY APPEAR ‘OFFICIAL’.

5. RESEARCH THE PRICE & SHOP AROUND
WHEREAS THE LOWEST COST IS USUALLY PREFERRED, IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST OPTION. SHOPPING AROUND AND ARMING YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE OF PRICES, PRODUCT DETAILS AND PACKAGES PUTS YOU IN A BETTER POSITION FOR BARGAINING AND IDENTIFYING WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS REASONABLE (NOT NECESSARILY THE CHEAPEST) AND THE FEATURES THAT COME WITH THAT PRICE.

6. KNOW THE COSTS UP FRONT AND WHERE YOU WILL MAKE THE PAYMENT
LEGITIMATE COMPANIES WILL TELL YOU UPFRONT ALL THE CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH AN ITEM BEFORE ALLOWING YOU TO MAKE A PURCHASE. REPUTABLE COMPANIES WILL ALSO PROVIDE YOU WITH INVOICES AND RECEIPTS WITH PURCHASES AND NOT JUST AN ACCOUNT NUMBER AT WHICH TO MAKE A PAYMENT. A BANK RECEIPT PROVES YOU MADE A LODGEMENT NOT A PURCHASE.

7. LOOK FOR DISCREPANCIES
IF YOU FIND A DISCREPANCY IN THE PRESENTATION- THE PROMISES DO NOT MATCH THE CONTRACT OR THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS SAY ONE THING AND WHEN YOU VISIT YOU ARE TOLD SOMETHING ELSE, BE SUSPICIOUS.

8. GUARD YOUR PRIVACY
PROVIDE PRIVATE INFORMATION ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHO IS COLLECTING IT, ASK WHY AND HOW IT WILL BE USED.

9. CHECK YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE IF YOU ARE OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT OR THINKING THAT YOU ARE GETTING A VERY GOOD DEAL, THEN BE WARY. OFTEN FRAUD VICTIMS ARE BLINDED BY THE EXCITEMENT CREATED BY THE PROMOTER. GOOD INVESTMENTS ARE OFTEN MORE ABOUT PROPER RESEARCH THAN HOW ONE FEELS.

10. DO NOT BE PRESSURED INTO A PURCHASE
IF YOU ARE TOLD THAT THIS OFFER ONLY LAST TODAY, IS URGENT OR IT IS THE FINAL DEADLINE AND YOU MUST HAND OVER A LOT OF MONEY ON SPOT OR IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME, ASK FOR EXTRA TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. THINK ABOUT IT THEN THINK SOME MORE AND THEN ASK FOR MORE TIME. WHEN YOU ARE SATISFIED AND HAVE DONE ALL THE ABOVE THEN MAKE A DECISION ON PURCHASE. THREATS AND HARASSMENT ARE ALSO TECHNIQUES USED BY SCAM ARTISTE TO ‘PUSH A SALE’

11. FINALLY, IF YOU STILL HAVE DOUBTS DON’T!!
TRUST YOU INSTINCTS, IF THEY TELL YOU SOMETHING ISN’T RIGHT THEN BY ALL MEANS LISTEN- ‘ WHEN IN DOUBT…LEAVE OUT’.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A VICTIM OF FRAUD OR FIND YOUR SELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE BEING GIVEN AN UNREASONABLE TIMEFRAME FOR REPAIR OR REDRESS, THEN DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT OUR OFFICES- 926-1650-2 IN KINGSTON & 940-6154 IN MONTEGO BAY.