Category: Service Review

Scambusters.org Have Helped More than 11 Million People Against Internet Scams

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www.Scambusters.org is a public service website and email newsletter  that helps people avoid the most common scams and identity theft threats. It was started by  Dr. Audri Lanford and her husband Jim, because

“Being smart is NOT enough to protect yourself and your family so they created a definitive resource to help protect you  from dangerous Internet scams, frustrating spam, and devious identity theft”

Scambusters.org says it has helped over 11 million people protect themselves from Internet scams, identity theft and spam since 1994. The key resource is a free newsletter

The scambusters newsletter has 80,000 subscribers and is very good and the website has lots on how to avoid the most popular scams and identity theft threats.

Some Recent Scams and Advice on the Website

  • Latest Lottery Scam Tricks More Convincing Than Ever
  • 15 Million Bogus Hotel Bookings Every Year!
  • Phishing on Facebook and Shooting the Scam Rapids on Amazon
  • Seniors Snared in Multiple Impostor Scams
  • Scammers Cash-in on Fears of Law Enforcement
  • New Program Will Aid Identity Theft Recovery
  • Scams Behind Bogus LinkedIn Job Offers
  • Is That ID Verification Letter Genuine or Another Tax Scam?
  • Phone Scams for Wrong Numbers, Jailbroken iPhones, Vacation Gifts and Prescriptions

The Telephone Preference Service

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The Telephone Preference Service is provided by the government and lets you register your phone number. Once registered it is illegal for cold callers to call your number (legally, telemarketers must not to call a TPS subscribed number after 28 days, but you should start noticing a gradual decline from registration).

Registration is free and only takes 2 minutes.  The service was setup because there so many cold callers from companies about PPI, Accident Claims, Overseas Scams, Spam SMS and Other Nuisance Calls.

The original legislation was introduced in May 1999. It has subsequently been updated and now the relevant legislation is the Privacy and Electronic (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

Q. Who can register?

TPS is for consumers at their residential address, sole traders and, except in Scotland, partnerships, but not businesses.  There is also a separate corporate telephone preference service for companies to register their phone numbers to prevent cold callers.

Q. Who pays for TPS?

No money is received from the Government to run the Service, the direct marketing industry pays for it. They will also take complaints against cold calling companies but they don’t do enforcement – that’s down to the Information Commissioners Office.

If you are plagued by cold callers – then register with TPS online, but beware of callers pretending to offer this service – they are usually scammers.