Scams - TV & Radio
On TV & Radio
TV & Radio Scams
As discussed in previous articles there are many ways scammers can deceive you. They use old fashions ways like mail, phones and newer technology like computers. TV and radio scams are yet another way to get your money. They are fraudulent schemes that use television or radio advertising to trick people into giving away their personal information or money. These scams can take many forms, such as offering fake products or services, making false or exaggerated claims, or using high-pressure sales tactics to persuade people to make a purchase. Some common examples of TV and radio scams include work-at-home schemes, investment scams, health and wellness scams, and debt relief scams. Be cautious when encountering TV or radio ads that seem too good to be true or make unrealistic claims. Before making a purchase or providing personal information as a result of a TV or radio ad, do your research and make sure the company and the product are legitimate.
Just because you hear an ad on TV or radio does not mean it is necessarily a legitimate product or company. Maybe they have your favorite athlete or tv personality pitching their product. Keep in mind those celebrities are paid for the ad, they may or may not know anything about the product they are pitching & the same is true for the tv/radio station.
TV and radio scams are fraudulent schemes designed to trick people into giving away their personal information or money through the use of television or radio advertising. These scams can take many forms, such as offering fake products or services, making false or exaggerated claims, or using high-pressure sales tactics to persuade people to make a purchase. Or it may simply be a product that doesn’t do what it is advertised to do.
Some common examples of TV and radio scams include:
Work-at-home schemes: These scams often advertise opportunities to work from home, but require people to pay a fee upfront or provide sensitive personal information before they can start working.
Investment scams: These scams may use TV or radio ads to promote investment opportunities that are too good to be true, such as high-yield investments with little risk.
Health and wellness scams: These scams may advertise supposed cures or treatments for various health conditions, often using exaggerated or false claims to persuade people to purchase their products.
Debt relief scams: These scams may offer to help people pay off their debts or repair their credit, but often require upfront fees and do not deliver on their promises.
They may have a legitimate product, however, their processing fees and/or the shipping may be outrageously priced.
Sadly, I had a client one time who used a “debt relief” company to get their debt paid down. The client had been paying this debt relief company hundreds of dollars each month for over a year. The client believed the debt relief company was paying the debt with the money that was sent to them. That was not how they worked. The client was listed as an owner of a property she was selling & when a Title search was done, we discovered a lien had been placed granted by the court against the client’s name, unbeknownst to the client. The “debt relief” company was waiting to negotiate with the credit card company in hopes they would take substantially less money To make a long story short, the full lien had to be paid to clear the property title so we could close on the property. Then the debt relief company said they would not refund the money she had sent them since she had breached their contract. I honestly don’t know if they ever got their money back or not. I’m sure there are legitimate debt relief programs but ALWAYS know what the signed contract says.
What to do?
It's important to be cautious when encountering TV or radio ads that seem too good to be true or make unrealistic claims. If you're considering making a purchase or providing personal information as a result of a TV or radio ad, do your research and make sure the company is legitimate before proceeding.
Conclusion
TV and radio scams are fraudulent schemes that use advertising to trick people into giving away their personal information or money. These scams can take many forms, such as offering fake products or services, making false or exaggerated claims, or using high-pressure sales tactics. Some common examples include work-at-home schemes, investment scams, health and wellness scams, and debt relief scams. Be cautious when encountering TV or radio ads that seem too good to be true or make unrealistic claims—research before purchasing or providing personal information due to a TV or radio ad. Remember, just because you hear an ad on TV or radio does not mean it is legitimate. Be wary of high processing fees or shipping costs, even if the product may be legitimate. Medicare and Social Security scams are among the most costly and common scams targeting seniors. Our next article will discuss how these scams affect seniors and everyone.