Fraud

IN this busy holiday season,
British Columbians musi be
vigilant against deceptive and
unscrupulous schemes to
defraud consumers, said
Attorney General Ujjal
Dosanjh.

“At this ame of year, when many
legitimate charities naise
their annual donations, phony charities
are also trying, to. capitalize on the
goodwill of British Colunthians,”
Dosanjh said.

He urged British Columbians to
contribute to charities they know, or, if
unfamiliar with the chanty, to check
with the consumer affairs division of the
Ministry of Attorney General or the
Better Business Bureau before making 4
donation.

Here is some information on the
techniques most often used to deceive
consumer and tips on how to protect
yoursel! from fraudulent businesses.
Consumers who have questions or con-
cerns abour unknown businesses thar

25 Multicoloured
Flop ppy D
$19.99 (S101 Rebate)

the bulk of

schemes pra

approach them for money or personal
information should contact the nearest
consumer services division office or the
BBR.

Based on the number of inquiries
received trom consumers, the top dis-
reputable methods used to) swindle
money from B.C. residents in L99P
were:

B phony charities — In this busy. pie
holiday season, individuals and org.
gations representing “sound ali
charities or misrepreseming their att
iation to a known charity are asking
British Columbians for donations and
pocketing the cash.

This practice is leaving some Iegiti
mate charities low on funds. If you are
unfamiliar with the charity, ask to have
a copy of its latest financial statements
before you make a donation.

Check with the Better Business
Bureau or your focal police before mak-
ing a large contribution. Do nor send
cash, Pay by cheque made out to the
charity, not the canvasser.

Ifa protessional fundraiser is being
used, find out how much of the dona-

Sony,

4 $89.29
ICF.cseeo

Desk Radio
$89.99
tes IcP-C700

Final Pantasy VII
$79.99
P4162

Caller ID Phone

$99.99
IT-1D70

ic Wireless Stereo 7
| Headphone System

$99.99
MDR-IFIZ5RK

© There's headphones, clock radios, micro- cassette recorders, computer

disks. telephones, PlayStation’ games. CD cas

s also Walkman? remote controlle

es. cordless phones. Minidises, and now we are yoing 1o stop.
you might notexpect it. but the Sony store h.

There's
boom bo:
e The fact

hould we go on? Okay. fine.
mini- headphones, personal

so tiuny gifts

Cassette Clock Radio

tion actually goes to the charity.
a telemarketing — slick telemarketers
continued to taik B.C. residents out of

afotot cash this year with promises of

prizes that failed’ to materialize. Hf a
friendly stranger on the ling promises
vou a prize, rementher, if vou won it,

you don’t have to make 2 purchase or
pay a tee to claim it, and you don’t have
to pay tor delivery.

@ foreign lottery tickets -~ many for
cign lottery tickets are sold in “pools”

with a hefiy price tag attached. “The
pools are sold by insistent and convine-
ing telemarketers who targer seniors
and only accept payment by credit card
or money order.

These foreign lotteries are not exclu:
sive offers nor do they guarantee 3 cash
prize as many of their resellers claim.

Be cautious about giving your cred:
it card number over the phone. Many
victims have been double-billed or
over-billed and once the moncy is gong,
the chances of getting it back are slim.
@ 1-900 numbers to claim a prize —-
thousands of B.C. consumers stufl don’t
realize that dialling a U-900 number

Fontopia’ Earphones

$14.99
MDR-£817

Remote Control ;
: 24.99 :
) VOL RM-Vi2

AMV
Ne
$69.59

Sunday, December 21, 1997 — North Shore News - 33

ferate

costs them money.

Dazzled by “You're a Winner” mail-
ings or winning scratch tn win cards,
they rush to phone the 1 990 number
provided to chim their prize and end
up being charged $30 40 tor the call -
a great cash cow for the business, bur
not for the “winner” whose prize often
amounts to no mere than a dollar or
wo,

B phony contests and sweepstakes ~~
businesses are still sending junk mail
enticing consumers with promises for
big cash prizes, i an attempt to get
them to send personal information in
order ota claim) their prize.
Unfortunately, once identified as an
casv larger — someone who doesn’t ask
a lot of questions or gives out their
credit. card number - your name is
added toa “sucker” fist which is then
sokl te other companies.

letters trom Nigeria promising big
profits — a criminal syndicate in Nigeria
continues to target small businesses this
year with promises of big profits for
businesses that “invest” in their. phony
operation.

AM/FM Neckloce Radio

{ Blank Minidisc
314: 99

under $100 that you're sure to find something perfect for those hard-to buy

for people on your list, Without it costing an arm and a leg.
worrs, if you still haven't gota clue what to get when vou arrive,
s would be more than happy ta give you a few ideas. © But be fore

NEN

e@ And dont
one of our

warned, vou may also find afew things farvourself in the process. Serre. Sart of,

It’s not just a store. It’s a Sony.

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