Updated: 09/07/07
Project Colt Telemaketing Scams Task Force
Project Colt is an international task force on telemarketing fraud. Based in Montreal, Project Colt was started in 1998 to reduce and prevent telemarketing fraud coming out of Canada. It includes members of the RCMP, U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE), the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service, the Montreal police, the Quebec Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau of Canada. Since its beginning, Project Colt has recovered more than $15 million for U.S. victims of telemarketing fraud.
Frequent Telemarketing Scams Aimed at Seniors
The task force says that many of the fraudulent telemarketing schemes it has encountered are aimed at American seniors.
Here are the most frequent scams:
- lottery and sweepstakes scams - victims are told they have won a large prize. To collect it they must pay a fee, or taxes or customs duties.
- recovery operations - target victims of earlier telemarketing scams. The con artist claims to be a legal or government official responsible for dispersing a court settlement. To receive the settlement, the victim must pay a fee, or taxes or customs duties.
- advanced loan fees - fraudulent loan offers for a fee.
- counterfeit checks - once a victim pays the fee to claim a lottery or sweepstakes, the con artists issue counterfeit checks.
- fraudulent charitable donations - crooked telemarketers often use variations on the name of a real charitable organization or claim to be from a police or firefighter group.
- fraudulent magazine subscriptions - often asking victims to renew subscriptions.
- "reloading" - returning to previous victims to increase the fraud. Targets seniors who have already lost money and are willing to pay in the hope of having some of it restored.
- precious metals and gems - cheap gems are sold for much more than they are worth. Calls over time claim the gems have increased in value, and victims are persuaded to buy even more.
- investment scams - callers collect money to "invest" in banking and real estate programs.
Reporting Telemarketing Scams
If you have been the victim of a telemarketing fraud in Canada, or suspect that you are a target, please report it on RECOL Online or to PhoneBusters.
In the United States, fraud which crosses international borders is the responsibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and should be reported to 1-866-347-2423.
