Crimes of Persuasion

Schemes, scams, frauds.



Reloading of Fraud Victims

Many initial victims of fraudulent offers are contacted at a later time by a more aggressive telemarketer. This "reloader" or "double-scammer" will convince you that you are eligible for even greater prizes under the company's "executive" prize promotion, if you make more purchases.

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"Congratulations, you've been advanced to a larger promotion and selected to receive an even more valuable award." "Because you purchased $400 worth of vitamins you've been selected for the next round."

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"Now you know they always want you to buy something?"

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"Your invoice is for only $2499." "It might seem like a lot but they would never have you do that if you weren't absolutely guaranteed."

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"It's a mere drop in the bucket compared to what you have coming to you in less than 35 days."

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"Now I'm going to approve it for you to use a personal cheque or a money order. Which one is best for you?" "O.K., I'll wait until you get an envelope and your cheque book."

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"If you're not the happiest person in town at this time next month I'll fly down there and you can cram it down my throat."

Faced with a loss of funds, some senior citizens will go along with another scheme in which the con artists promise to make good on the original funds that where lost and possibly even generate new returns well beyond those originally promised.

A "verification call" is typically used in order to verify that the prospect has succumbed to an earlier pitch. During such calls which may be recorded the telemarketer induces the victim to say that they agreed to send money in order to purchase the product, rather than to qualify for the prize. This acts as a disclaimer and a hedge against prosecution.

Only experienced telemarketers are allowed to reload customers. Telemarketers are required to indicate on their sales order forms when a customer is a reload along with the other sales data.

One "reloader" accumulated a wealth of experience from having worked eight years in the telemarketing industry at companies using comparable schemes. In fact, he was proud of the fact that he had been the top reloader at almost every company where he had worked. Things were no different at CDC where he quickly rose to the top, producing $443,209 of the $2,677,000 generated in the nine months he worked there.


Bleed Them Dry

Customers that are successfully reloaded are referred to as "reloads" and "mooches." Mooches are people who "just can't say no", some of whom send money twelve or more times. This pattern of "reloading" continues until the fraud victim has no more to give, monetarily or psychologically. A sample conversation which displays the "sympathetic concern" shown by a reloader determined to bleed an elderly lady dry:

"I'm trying to tell you. I have no more money. I don't have any. "

"I'd say, number one, you better drop that tone with me. "

"No, I don't mean it that way. I'm just trying to say I don't have any more. "

"Well, there's something you could do about it."

"I said I am sorry because I can't help it. I can't do anything about it, sir. "

"Well, you could take your credit card down and get a cash advance on that."

"I hear what you're saying. I wish I could do it. "

"Well, you better start listening to what I'm saying. "

" I don't know how to come up with it really. I really truly don't ."

"Well, if we can just approve this thing for the sixteen hundred dollars."

"My cards are maxed out. I'm not kidding."

"Look !, I don't wanna sound like a hard nose."

"I know you have to do what you have to do."

"How much too much is that?"

" Well they just sent me a shut off notice for my electricity. I came up with that."

"Hey, I don't need the whole sob story of every single nickel you ever spent."

"But I don't even have a savings account any more."

"Well you could go to the bank and you could sign for a loan."


Too Late to Save

Through months or years of small wins and numerous purchases they manage to keep your hopes up that one day you will win the big one, which will make up for your earlier spending. They tell you the names of other winners and make it sound like you're the only one who hasn't claimed a major prize yet.


Even The Winners Lose

In one case, where the scammers were induced to finally award cars to long-playing "winners", (people who had paid over $75,000 each), they acquired the vehicles at a substantial discount because they were known to be "lemons" suffering hurricane flood damage.

"Congratulations, you have won a new car, you just have to pay the taxes of $5000".


Articles on the Reloading of Telemarketing Fraud Victims.


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