Beware of telemarketers claiming to be from a campaign

[Perky]

So I got a phone call last night from a woman claiming to work for the Obama campaign and telling me its time to ratchet things up between no and the Iowa Caucuses and then giving me pitch for a contribution of $300 by credit card.


But here is the problem. I have already maxed out my federal limit.....which I tell her and then explain that I was very surprised that their Db did not tell her that. She then proceeded to tell me that she was third party agent and as such the federal limits did not apply.

Are my dollars going to Obama? I queried.... "Yes" she stated with great impatience. I then told her that #W00 was pretty steep and in my case illegal..... she then says... how about $20?


I told her I would contribute online.

Scam?

[tjwash]

1. Yes. It's the landline version of phishing.

Big scam. They had people calling us up in San Diego during the fires trying to scam CC #'s for "fire relief".

Rule of thumb...unless you initiated the call, and dialed the number yourself, never EVER give you CC# to anyone who calls you up. If they say they are from "XXX.corp" and you owe "YYY", and it is going into collection, but you can settle it right now with your credit card, hang up on them, look up "XXX" corps number in the phone book, or online and call their department yourself. Ditto if someone who says they are from your CC company calls and wants info. Hang up and call the number on the back of your credit card and talk to one of them.

[Blashyrkh]

5. Sound advice.

[DearAbby]

2. Scam

sounds like it to me

[Blue Diadem]

3. You know..I got one of those a few months ago,

The woman was very demanding. I thought it was strange because they immediately asked for $200 and when I said not only had I not decided who I was supporting, that I didn't have $200. Then she said that "certainly" I could donate $150 and if not at least $100. I got quite nasty with her and told her she wasn't doing Obama any favors by her demanding behavior.

I just thought I had a over zealous campaign worker trying to raise funds..but maybe it was a scam or maybe it's to turn people off to Obama.

[DesertFlower]

4. i don't speak to telemarketers.

my answering machine says "if you're a telemarketer, no". if i happen to pick up the phone, i tell them not to call again and if they do i report them to the "do not call". i have caller ID.

even organizations that i've given money too, i.e., the ASPCA, red cross, i figure if they've got a telemarketer calling someone's getting a cut. i want all of my money to go to the organization, not part to pay someone, so i do it on-line.

the amount they asked you to give was excessive.

[Perky]

6. Yeah the first Flags were I am on the DO not call list

they called my ceel phone and I really do no think I ever gace out my phone number when I contributed,


HOw they knew I was an Obama supporter is of some concern could have just been a luck guess or if it was a scam Obamaa call lists may have been compromised.