In a recent article, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) warned of customer service scams online. Based on reports received by the FTC, the information at the top of search results for certain companies’ customer service departments may be fake.
Scammers are creating fake customer service information for popular companies and paying for it to show up at the top of consumers’ online search results. When the consumer contacts the fake listing, the scammers ask for money or gift cards to resolve the problem. Scammers may also ask for personal information, or try to gain remote access to the consumer’s computer.
Don’t Become the Next Victim of a Customer Service Scam
The FTC lays out some steps consumers can take to protect themselves against Customer Service Scammers:
- Check the product packaging. If you still have it, the packaging, manual, or other print material for your product is a good source of real customer service information.
- Visit the company’s official website for contact information. Type the company’s website address directly into your browser. That will get you to the company’s website to look for customer service contact information —maybe a phone number, email address, or a way to submit a message directly through their website. If you use a search engine to find the company, though, double check the URL to be sure you’ve found the company’s official site, not a scammer’s site.
- Never wire money, send gift cards, or give your account password in exchange for customer service help. No legitimate company will ask you to send gift cards or wire money, or give your password in exchange for customer service help. Hang up on anyone who does.
Contact Us If You Have Been Scammed
Shub Law Firm specializes in protecting consumers against deceptive business practices and consumer fraud. If you believe you have been scammed by a customer service scammer or scammed by any other company, we’re here to help you fight back and get the justice you deserve. Contact us now for a free consultation. You can reach us by email at leads@shublawyers.com or give us a call at 856-772-7200. Shub Law Firm is a national leader in representing consumers, just like you, who have been scammed by big companies that put profit over their customers. Our experienced class action attorneys are here to help you get justice. Contact us now!
