Three for Thursday 07.29.2021
Welcome to TrustDALE's Three For Thursday with Consumer Investigator Dale Cardwell.
Did they really fall for that? I can't tell you how many times I've heard that remark. As famed author Malcomb Gladwell tells us, people are built to believe first, question later. Our desire to believe often outweighs our skepticism, and that's often a good thing. Imagine how difficult life would be if we were immediately suspicious of everything and everyone? Today, I'm warning you about the most unbelievable con of all, romance scams. They actually do happen, and the common denominator of victims is loneliness. It breaks my heart to hear these stories, and to have to walk someone through the evidence of helping them discover they were taken by a person who played on their loneliness. Chances are, you will meet someone you care about who is taken by a romance scammer. Listen for the signs, because that friend will likely reach out to see what you think. That will be your chance to help them.
Watch this Investigation
Watch this investigation:
Ask Dale
Today's Ask Dale question is from Patricia, who wants to know if a romance scammer can be stopped!
Todays Lesson on how to be a Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on validating online offers.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Never pay in advance for anything online unless you know for certain it is legit and you have fully vetted the offer.
Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Online offers are particularly difficult to legitimize, especially the ones that sound too good to be true. Why because they usually are!
Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he can't be found after he gets your money. Finding the originator of an online offer is particularly difficult. That's why I rarely risk a purchase online.
Define - Your deal by comparing Product, Offer and Price. Again, validating the weight of an offer when it's made online is very difficult. Remember sea monkeys? That's my point.
Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. I highly recommend purchasing products online ONLY from reputable validated sources. If you've never heard of the seller or platform, you're risking your money!
Authenticate - Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. Always authenticate online sources with "the three r's" before purchasing.
Legitimize - your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background checked. The "legitimacy" of a company's existence isn't good enough to validate a purchase from an online vender. You MUST use all seven steps when purchasing online!
SCAMMERS BEWARE: SEASONED CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR DALE CARDWELL GIVES READERS A GAME PLAN TO AVOID RIP-OFFS