AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine attorney general’s office on Friday issued a scam alert about a sham political robocall that disguises a vacation time-share pitch as an election poll.
A group called Political Opinions of America uses an automated voice to ask a three-question poll, according to a press release issued by Maine Attorney General William J. Schneider. After answering, Caribbean Cruise Lines offers the consumer a free cruise for taking the survey.
The free offer, however, requires a port fee or tax to be paid by credit card over the phone, the press release said. The cruise claims to be designed to expose people to sales pitches for vacation time shares.
“Legitimate campaign calls can be expected during election season and the information that pollsters obtain from voters is valuable to the campaign process,” Schneider said in the release. “A bonafide survey will not try to reward you with a free service or sell you something.”
The Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registry bans unsolicited prerecorded sales calls to any number on the list, the release noted. For information, visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt107.shtm or https://www.donotcall.gov/.
Maine residents who want to report a survey scam may call the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 626-8849.
Unfortunately they simply ignore the do not call list and change the calling number and continue to robo-call. Just like the numerous calls I have got from a Rachel offering to lower my credit card interest, same recording saying it was my last chance but different number every time. Reporting them to the do not call list is a waste of time.
When I get a sham call (or a telemarketer call) I wait until I get a live person on the line. When they start talking I take a coach’s whistle and blow it really hard into the mouthpiece and hang up. It makes me so happy every time I do it.
I do the same thing some times. However if I don’t have the time I usually just turn up the stereo and set the phone next to the speaker and walk off.
I get those calls also and when I ask to be removed from their calling list he/she hangs up on me!! Ticks me off EVERY TIME!!
With all the sham “polls” calling, this political season, how can he tell the difference?
Don’t give credit card or bank account information to ANYONE who calls you on your telephone. A real poll will not ask for this information.
We have a simpler move — just hang up, before they get to the asking.
WORST part with ALL the telemarketet calls and especially the politician calls which will be non stop until NOVEMBER, ONCE you answer the phone you can’t get rid of the connection UNTIL the entire recorded message has played.IF you do NOT recognize the CALLER ID # OR there is no CALLER ID shown, DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE !!!
Robo calls are particularly annoying to me. Many times, due to being a shift worker, I try to sleep days or evenings. “Rachael” is always a problem with her many different numbers. I’m on the Do Not Call list but very unfortunately political calls are allowed. Can’t do anything about them.
I got that call on my unlisted land line the other day. When it said free vacation, I knew it was a time share ploy. Just for snickers, I answered the 3 generic poll questions, then hung up. An hour later they were on my cell phone.
I think some of these telemarketers get our phone numbers from the “do not call list”. What a joke the list is anyways.
This is not ‘News’ – been going on for years. These calls are not legitimate and fly under the
‘do not call list’ radar.
I refuse to answer any’ political surveys’, genuine or not, which is also why I know poll numbers are not accurate.