COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Are you looking to save on your phone, TV, or internet services? Have you considered a discounted insurance plan to cut the cost of your health care? If you think any of this sounds too good to be true, that’s because it probably is!
Both the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI issued warnings about scammers attempting to lure unsuspecting consumers with these “deals,” then ultimately, ripping them off.
According to the FTC, one version of the scam starts with an out-of-the-blue phone call from someone who claims to be from a utility company, and promises a 30, 40 or 50 percent discount on future bills, bundles, or product purchases, if* you act fast and pay up front. Then, they’ll ask you to purchase a gift card and provide them with the number.
An announcement from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center describes a similar scam involving discount medical insurance. Fraudsters reach out, pretending to represent legitimate health insurance providers, and pressure you to sign up for a new plan at a discounted rate that’s available only for a limited time. But once victims purchase a plan, they are unable to even use the supposed benefits, cancel the plan, or get their money back. According to the bureau, hundreds of people from Pennsylvania to Washington state have already lost thousands of dollars to the scheme.
As with most scams, there are some signs that point toward these phony promises:
- A call, text or email out of the blue, trying to sell you something.
- The sense of urgency to “act now” or miss out.
- The demand to pay right away.
Instead:
- Don’t make any quick decisions.
- Don’t respond, or end the conversation altogether.
- Contact the company that’s offering the deal to confirm whether it’s real, only using phone numbers and websites you search for yourself. Never call back or click on links sent to you.
