Don't Pay for a Promise!: A Survivor's Guide to Swindles and Deceptive Practices

Growing out of a project to help the author deal with his own credulity, "Don’t Pay for a Promise" is a treasure house of information distilled from hundreds of Government publications. These publications are constantly being revised and updated and the reader should consult them regularly for the latest facts. However, because each publication must stand on its own, there is a "patchwork" character to the material and finding answers for a particular situation can take time. By capturing the essence of these publications, John McHardy has created a powerful resource for anyone who has ever agonized over an offer that seems too good to be true.  In 14 compact chapters, the book deals systematically with the diverse types and guises of consumer fraud, offering concrete advice on how to recognize and respond to each of them. The first chapter provides information common to all types of fraud and serves as a foundation for the rest of the book. The next eleven chapters then cover individual aspects of the subject. For example, Chapter 2 "Identity Theft" examines topics that range from simple theft to the less obvious hazards of automatic debit and electronic banking.   A typical chapter begins with an outline of pertinent laws and regulations and continues with one or more sections on particular issues. For example, Chapter 3, arranges the broad subject of "Contests" into three separate sections. Within each section, the material is organized under a consistent set of paragraph headings. These include the "promise" (the scam or deceptive practice), warning signs that may distinguish it from a legitimate offer, and ways that consumers can protect themselves — or at least minimize their losses.  The book concludes with two chapters of reference material, Chapter 13 detailing the many organizations that can offer help in the fight against fraud and Chapter 14 containing the full text of FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule.

"1103725121"
Don't Pay for a Promise!: A Survivor's Guide to Swindles and Deceptive Practices

Growing out of a project to help the author deal with his own credulity, "Don’t Pay for a Promise" is a treasure house of information distilled from hundreds of Government publications. These publications are constantly being revised and updated and the reader should consult them regularly for the latest facts. However, because each publication must stand on its own, there is a "patchwork" character to the material and finding answers for a particular situation can take time. By capturing the essence of these publications, John McHardy has created a powerful resource for anyone who has ever agonized over an offer that seems too good to be true.  In 14 compact chapters, the book deals systematically with the diverse types and guises of consumer fraud, offering concrete advice on how to recognize and respond to each of them. The first chapter provides information common to all types of fraud and serves as a foundation for the rest of the book. The next eleven chapters then cover individual aspects of the subject. For example, Chapter 2 "Identity Theft" examines topics that range from simple theft to the less obvious hazards of automatic debit and electronic banking.   A typical chapter begins with an outline of pertinent laws and regulations and continues with one or more sections on particular issues. For example, Chapter 3, arranges the broad subject of "Contests" into three separate sections. Within each section, the material is organized under a consistent set of paragraph headings. These include the "promise" (the scam or deceptive practice), warning signs that may distinguish it from a legitimate offer, and ways that consumers can protect themselves — or at least minimize their losses.  The book concludes with two chapters of reference material, Chapter 13 detailing the many organizations that can offer help in the fight against fraud and Chapter 14 containing the full text of FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule.

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Don't Pay for a Promise!: A Survivor's Guide to Swindles and Deceptive Practices

Don't Pay for a Promise!: A Survivor's Guide to Swindles and Deceptive Practices

by John McHardy
Don't Pay for a Promise!: A Survivor's Guide to Swindles and Deceptive Practices

Don't Pay for a Promise!: A Survivor's Guide to Swindles and Deceptive Practices

by John McHardy

eBook

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Overview

Growing out of a project to help the author deal with his own credulity, "Don’t Pay for a Promise" is a treasure house of information distilled from hundreds of Government publications. These publications are constantly being revised and updated and the reader should consult them regularly for the latest facts. However, because each publication must stand on its own, there is a "patchwork" character to the material and finding answers for a particular situation can take time. By capturing the essence of these publications, John McHardy has created a powerful resource for anyone who has ever agonized over an offer that seems too good to be true.  In 14 compact chapters, the book deals systematically with the diverse types and guises of consumer fraud, offering concrete advice on how to recognize and respond to each of them. The first chapter provides information common to all types of fraud and serves as a foundation for the rest of the book. The next eleven chapters then cover individual aspects of the subject. For example, Chapter 2 "Identity Theft" examines topics that range from simple theft to the less obvious hazards of automatic debit and electronic banking.   A typical chapter begins with an outline of pertinent laws and regulations and continues with one or more sections on particular issues. For example, Chapter 3, arranges the broad subject of "Contests" into three separate sections. Within each section, the material is organized under a consistent set of paragraph headings. These include the "promise" (the scam or deceptive practice), warning signs that may distinguish it from a legitimate offer, and ways that consumers can protect themselves — or at least minimize their losses.  The book concludes with two chapters of reference material, Chapter 13 detailing the many organizations that can offer help in the fight against fraud and Chapter 14 containing the full text of FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781462818006
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Publication date: 11/02/2000
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 420 KB

Table of Contents

Chapter 1The Fraud Epidemic
The Swindler17
The Victim18
The Contact19
Telephone19
Computer Networks19
Mail20
Advertisements20
TV Infomercials21
Referrals21
The "Respectable" Business22
The Pitch22
Large Profits22
Low Risk23
Urgency23
Confidence23
About This Book24
Purpose24
Organization24
Chapter 2Identity Theft
The Law27
The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA)27
FTC Telemarketing Sales Rules28
Card Theft29
Limiting Your Financial Loss29
Protecting Yourself30
Mail Theft30
Protecting Yourself31
Automatic Debit32
Protecting Yourself32
Electronic Banking33
Electronic Fund Transfers34
Your Rights and Responsibilities35
Errors37
Lost or Stolen EFT Cards38
Limited Stop-Payment Privileges39
Other Rights39
Protecting Yourself40
Chapter 3Contests
The Law41
Prize Offers41
The Promise42
Protecting Yourself42
Scholarships43
The Promise43
Warning Signs44
Protecting Yourself45
Green Card Offers45
The Promise46
Protecting Yourself46
Chapter 4Employment
Federal Jobs48
The Promise48
Warning Signs49
Job Assistance49
The Promise50
Types of Employment Service Firms50
Protecting Yourself53
Modeling Offers54
The Promise54
Warning Signs55
Protecting Yourself57
Work at Home58
The Promise59
Protecting Yourself60
Coupons61
The Promise61
Warning Signs63
Protecting Yourself63
Chapter 5Business Opportunities
The Law65
FTC Franchise Rule65
Internet-Based Business Opportunities66
The Promise67
Protecting Yourself68
Display Racks And Vending Machines69
The Promise70
The Reality71
Protecting Yourself72
Pyramid Schemes73
Pyramids vs. Multi-Level Marketing Plans74
Protecting Yourself74
Inventions75
Warning Signs76
Recognizing Legitimate Firms77
Protecting Yourself79
Further Information80
Chapter 6Credit
The Law82
The Fair Credit Reporting Act82
The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA)84
The Credit Repair Organizations Act85
Credit Cards86
Protecting Yourself86
Protecting Your Cards87
Buying a Registration Service88
Secured Credit Cards89
Secured vs. Unsecured Cards89
The Promise90
Warning Signs90
Protecting Yourself91
Advance-Fee Loans91
The Promise91
Protecting Yourself92
Low-Cost Help for Credit Problems93
Credit Repair94
The Promise94
Warning Signs94
File Segregation95
Protecting Yourself97
Debt Relief98
Warning Signs98
Protecting Yourself99
Personal Bankruptcy99
Loan Transfers100
Chapter 7Merchandise
The Law101
The FTC Credit Practices Rule101
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule104
Unordered Merchandise108
Frequently Asked Questions108
Protecting Yourself109
Warranties and Service Contracts111
Written Warranties111
Spoken Warranties112
Implied Warranties112
Service Contracts113
Protecting Yourself115
Resolving Warranty Disputes116
Home Water Treatment Units117
How do I know if I need a unit?117
What kind of units are available?118
What else should I consider?120
Warning Signs121
Protecting Yourself122
Kitchen Gadgets123
The Promise123
The Risk123
Native American Jewelry125
Authentication125
Terminology126
How to Buy128
Further Information128
Magazines129
Warning Signs129
Protecting Yourself130
How To Cancel132
Office Supplies133
The Credible-Invoice Scam134
The Order-by-Trick Scam135
The Wedge Scam136
After the Merchandise and the Invoice Arrive137
Protecting Your Organization138
Yellow Pages Invoices140
Warning Signs141
Protecting Yourself141
Chapter 8Automobile Repairs
Be Prepared143
How to Choose a Repair Shop143
Recognizing Symptoms147
Trouble Shooting150
Automatic Transmission Repair151
Recognizing Symptoms152
Choosing a Repair Facility152
Protecting Yourself154
"Gas-Saving" Products155
The Promise155
The Reality156
Protecting Yourself159
Chapter 9Health and Recreation
Fraudulent Health Claims160
The Promise160
Warning Signs162
Protecting Yourself163
Dietary Supplements164
Weight Loss Programs165
The Promise166
Protecting Yourself167
Health Spas168
Protecting Yourself169
Travel Offers170
The Promise170
Warning Signs171
Protecting Yourself172
Further Information173
Vacation Time Sharing174
Timeshare Resale Programs177
The Promise177
Protecting Yourself178
Dance Lessons179
Sales Techniques179
Protecting Yourself180
Chapter 10Telemarketing
The Law182
The FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule183
Exceptions to the Rule184
Typical Scams185
The Promise185
Warning Signs186
Protecting Yourself187
Reloading188
The Promise188
Sucker Lists189
The Double Scam189
Recovery190
The Promise190
Protecting Yourself191
Chapter 11Communications
The Law192
The FTC 900 Number Rule192
Mail or Telephone Order Rule196
900 Numbers197
Protecting Yourself197
Cross Border Scams198
The Promise199
Protecting Yourself200
Mail Fraud202
The Promise202
Protecting Yourself204
Online Fraud205
The Promise205
Warning Signs207
Protecting Yourself207
Chapter 12Investment and Charity
Features of Investment Fraud211
The Promise211
Warning Signs213
Protecting Yourself215
Online Investments217
The Promise217
Warning Signs217
Rare Coins218
The Promise219
Protecting Yourself221
Art Fraud222
The Promise223
Protecting Yourself223
Precious Metals225
The Promise226
Protecting Yourself227
Telecommunications228
FCC License Auctions228
License Application Services229
Partnerships230
Warning Signs231
Protecting Yourself232
Charity233
Public Safety Fund-Raising Appeals234
Protecting Yourself235
Chapter 13Resources
The FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection239
Division of Advertising Practices239
Division of Credit Practices240
Division of Enforcement241
Division of Marketing Practices242
Division of Service Industry Practices243
Contacting the FTC243
The National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)244
Charter244
Contacting the NFIC245
Privacy245
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)246
Charter246
Contacting AARP246
Call For Action, Inc. (CFA)247
Charter247
Contacting CFA247
Your State Attorney General249
Other Agencies and Organizations256
Credit and ATM Card Problems256
National Credit Bureaus257
Employment and Investment Problems258
Business Organizations259
Chapter 14The Telemarketing Sales Rule
Part 310Telemarketing Sales Rule261
310.1Scope of regulations in this part261
310.2Definitions261
310.3Deceptive telemarketing acts or practices264
310.4Abusive telemarketing acts or practices267
310.5Record keeping requirements269
310.6Exemptions270
310.7Actions by States and private persons272
310.8Severability272
Footnotes273
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