Three for Thursday 04.13.2023
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
A couple months ago my wife Angie bought a rubber faucet extender for our bathroom so our granddaughters could more easily reach the water. It drove me crazy, mainly because it interfered with my morning shave. One day I noticed the rubber extender detached and sitting on the counter. Turns out my son had visited, and simply and easily pulled it off the faucet. That - had never occurred to me! There's also a famous scene in the movie Wall Street where Charlie Sheen says he wants to make enough money as a trader to take a year off, buy a motorcycle and drive across China. Podcaster Tim Ferriss famously revealed you could work as a custodian for six months and accomplish that goal. My point is this: We often accept false barriers or attribute difficulty to a task without devoting sufficient time to validate whether it truly is a barrier. What false assumption is holding you back?
Watch this Investigation
Today's investigation = Voice Clone Scams. Watch because This Could Happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question comes from Dina, who wants to know her rights when her pool contractor won't finish the job.
Watch the video for the answer!
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on validating a person (including a loved one) is who they say they are.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Speed is almost always an element of any scam.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? When you feel like you're taking advantage of someone who's solicited you, it's quite likely you're getting set up.
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Most phone and internet scammers want you to wire cash or use gift cards. Big red flag.
Define - Your deal by comparing product, Offer and Price. Make certain the seller has the right to sell you the product that you've thoroughly evaluated.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Most of this has to be done in person and over time. Getting rushed is another red flag.
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. A con artist can duplicate the look of almost anything authentic. Make certain the person is who they say they are, and don't be afraid to ask for two forms of ID.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. Again, people can impersonate legitimate people and companies. It's also still pretty easy to get a business license no matter your criminal background.
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS