If everyone were honest, fraud attorneys would have no business. Unfortunately, the world is filled with fraudulent companies perpetrating scams in an effort to take the hard-earned money of others. You can protect yourself from these unscrupulous businesses by recognizing the warning signs.
You Shouldn't Have to Pay to Make Money
By now nearly everyone has seen an advertisement on TV or online offering help in finding work leads, grants or business loans. They claim to offer tactics and information unavailable anywhere else. You should always be suspicious of any claim of this nature.
In fact, most of these offers are for books containing the exact same information that can be found elsewhere without paying. Government grants, for example, are not a secret. There is no hidden database. A little research on official government websites offers the same information found in these books.
The old adage that you have to spend money to make money applies to situations like investing or obtaining start-up funds for businesses. It generally does not refer to paying for a book or access to a database.
Don't Trust a Guaranteed Refund from an Unknown Company
Splashy advertisements for items that seem good to be true frequently include offers of a guaranteed refund for unsatisfied customers. Sadly, when the product does not live up to the hype, obtaining the offered refund often proves impossible.
Companies may refuse to refund payments due to details like open packaging or other circumstances not mentioned in the initial offer, and some consumers even find that the address and phone number provided for refunds leads to a dead end.
Refunds may be valid in some situations, but usually only those involving long-standing, respected businesses. In most cases, the promised refund never materializes, and the customer ends up seeking restitution with the assistance of a fraud attorney.
Recognizing a Pro Forma Invoice
If you receive a bill for a product or service you do not remember purchasing, chances are someone is trying to defraud you out of money. Bills and invoices can be made to look very official, even when they are not.
Good record-keeping is the best defense against this type of scam. Should you find yourself on the receiving end of a pro forma invoice, well-kept records of your purchases will help your fraud attorney prove that the bill is false.
Fraudulent Collections: Know What You Owe
Occasionally, fraudulent collection cases can be similar to pro forma invoices, in that you may begin receiving calls and letters attempting to collect a debt you do not owe. In other cases, you may have already paid the debt or had it removed from your credit record through the dispute process, and find yourself receiving collection calls years later.
Collection agencies sell debt to each other for pennies on the dollar, with each new agency hoping to profit by collecting more than they paid. Consumers get victimized in this system when these collection agencies actually defraud each other by selling invalid debt.
The new company may believe they are attempting to collect on a valid debt, but that does not mean consumers deserve to incur a loss on a debt they do not owe. Just as in cases of pro forma invoices, detailed financial records are your best defense.
How Fraud Attorneys Can Help
If you feel you have been scammed, your best chance for restitution lies in seeking the help of an experienced consumer fraud attorney. These are professionals who know how to defend consumers against all types of scams. They can prove the fraud occurred and help clients receive the restitution they deserve.
Patrick is a freelance copywriter with expertise covering various industries. This article aims to help people understand their legal options when it comes to consumer and how they can effectively navigate the system for obtaining compensation and justice. For common legal issues and practical tips on how you can handle those issues, please visit Lawteryx online legal guide. For securities and investment fraud attorney services, please visit http://www.stockbrokerattorney.com/
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