Reloading of Fraud
Victims
Many initial victims of fraudulent offers are contacted at a later
time by a more aggressive telemarketer. This "reloader" or "double-scammer" will
convince you that you are eligible for even greater prizes under
the company's "executive" prize promotion, if you make
more purchases.
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"Congratulations,
you've been advanced to a larger promotion and selected
to receive an even more valuable award." "Because
you purchased $400 worth of vitamins you've been selected
for the next round." |
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"Now
you know they always want you to buy something?" |
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"Your
invoice is for only $2499." "It might seem
like a lot but they would never have you do that if
you weren't absolutely guaranteed." |
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"It's
a mere drop in the bucket compared to what you have
coming to you in less than 35 days." |
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"Now
I'm going to approve it for you to use a personal cheque
or a money order. Which one is best for you?" "O.K.,
I'll wait until you get an envelope and your cheque
book." |
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"If
you're not the happiest person in town at this time
next month I'll fly down there and you can cram it
down my throat." |
Faced with a loss of funds, some
senior citizens will go along with another scheme in which the
con artists promise to make good on the original funds that where
lost and possibly even generate new returns well beyond those
originally promised.
A "verification call" is typically used in order to
verify that the prospect has succumbed to an earlier pitch. During
such calls which may be recorded the telemarketer induces the victim
to say that they agreed to send money in order to purchase the
product, rather than to qualify for the prize. This acts as a disclaimer
and a hedge against prosecution.
Only experienced telemarketers are allowed to reload customers.
Telemarketers are required to indicate on their sales order forms
when a customer is a reload along with the other sales data.
One "reloader" accumulated a wealth of experience from
having worked eight years in the telemarketing industry at companies
using comparable schemes. In fact, he was proud of the fact that
he had been the top reloader at almost every company where he had
worked. Things were no different at CDC where
he quickly rose to the top, producing $443,209 of the $2,677,000
generated in the nine months he worked there.
Bleed Them Dry
Customers that are successfully reloaded are referred to as "reloads" and "mooches." Mooches
are people who "just can't say no", some
of whom send money twelve or more times. This pattern of "reloading" continues
until the fraud victim has no more to give, monetarily or psychologically.
A sample conversation which displays the "sympathetic concern" shown
by a reloader determined to bleed an elderly lady dry:
"I'm trying to tell you. I have no more money. I don't have
any. "
"I'd say, number one, you better drop that tone with me. "
"No, I don't mean it that way. I'm just trying to say I don't
have any more. "
"Well, there's something you could do about it."
"I said I am sorry because I can't help it. I can't do anything
about it, sir. "
"Well, you could take your credit card down and get a
cash advance on that."
"I hear what you're saying. I wish I could do it. "
"Well, you better start listening to what I'm saying. "
" I don't know how to come up with it really. I really truly
don't ."
"Well, if we can just approve this thing for the sixteen
hundred dollars."
"My cards are maxed out. I'm not kidding."
"Look !, I don't wanna sound like a hard nose."
"I know you have to do what you have to do."
"How much too much is that?"
" Well they just sent me a shut off notice for my electricity.
I came up with that."
"Hey, I don't need the whole sob story of every single
nickel you ever spent."
"But I don't even have a savings account any more."
"Well you could go to the bank and you could sign for
a loan."
Too Late to Save
Through months or years of small wins and numerous purchases they
manage to keep your hopes up that one day you will win the big
one, which will make up for your earlier spending. They tell you
the names of other winners and make it sound like you're the only
one who hasn't claimed a major prize yet.
Seniors tend to have a finite amount of money that is unlikely
to be replenished in the event of fraud and abuse.The result is
a panic that is well known to con artists who have developed schemes
to take a "second bite" out of those who have already
been victimized.
Though the desire to make up lost financial ground is understandable,
all too often the result is that unwary senior citizens lose whatever
savings they have left in the wake of the initial scam.
It may be difficult to understand how someone could repeatedly
give money to con artists, but for some victims, responding to
fraudulent offers or investments is a repetitive form of behavior —much
like an addiction. For others, such as lonely elders, the only
form of social contact they have may be with fraudulent telemarketers,
and experienced con artists target them for just that reason.
Ninety-nine percent of the reload calls CDC made
were to people over the age of 60, and ninety percent of the calls
were made to people over the age of 70. These individuals
need help to break the continuing cycle of victimization.
No Recollection
When one victim was first contacted he was told that he had won
a car. He eventually agreed to send a check for $274 to cover taxes
and the cost of shipping. He received nothing. He later wrote an
additional check to one of the telemarketing companies for $735
but could not even remember doing so.
He was then called by a successor company and told that he was
a guaranteed winner of three-of-five fabulous prizes, prizes grander
even than those of the earlier company. This time the telemarketer
faxed him a list of the prizes and assured him that his cash winnings
would cover the amount of the taxes and fees.
He agreed to send in $1895 and wrote two checks totaling this
amount. Later on he was again contacted, told that he had won four-of-seven
listed prizes, promised that he had won at least $1000 in cash,
and told to send in $947. He did so; and as in all of the preceding
cases, he received nothing.
Even The Winners Lose
In one case, where the scammers were induced to finally award
cars to long-playing "winners", (people who had paid
over $75,000 each), they acquired the vehicles at a substantial
discount because they were known to be "lemons" suffering
hurricane flood damage.
"Congratulations, you have won a new car, you just have
to pay the taxes of $5000".
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