While there are many legitimate companies that use the telephone for marketing purposes, consumers and businesses lose millions of dollars to telemarketing fraud each year. It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between reputable telemarketers and those who use the telephone for fraudulent means. By learning to recognize the danger signs of fraudulent telemarketers, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.

• Never provide nor verify any personal or financial information over the phone. If someone begins asking these types of questions, HANG UP immediately! (Note: if YOU initiate the call to a business, you may be required to provide this information for security purposes).
• Say "no" to selling tactics which require you to make a decision immediately or "lose out on this great, once in a life time opportunity".
• Any solicitation that requires you to send or pay money upfront, no matter how good the offer seems, is illegal and fraudulent.
• If you are interested in dealing with a company, ask for written materials; if they cannot or will not send them, it is not legitimate. If you do receive materials in the mail, consult a trusted friend, a financial advisor, or the Better Business Bureau before committing to anything.
• Consider adding your name to the national "do not call registry" at (888) 382-1222. This registry is updated quarterly and covers you for five years. You may also wish to contact Wisconsin's registry at (866) 9NO-CALL, which is valid for two years. While these registries will not eliminate all calls, it should decrease the number received.
• Use First Banking Center's 24-hour First Touch Banking by calling (800) 417-5193 or sign up to view your accounts online: FBC Bank@Home. Either method allows you to keep a closer eye on your accounts, rather than waiting for a monthly statement.

If, however, you have fallen victim to this type of fraud, the following steps are provided to assist you:

• Depending on the information provided, you may wish to contact any of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Trans Union or Experian) and ask that a "fraud alert" be placed on your file.
• If necessary, file a report with your local law enforcement agency. Keep a copy of this report as you will need it when dealing with retailers, financial institutions, and other companies.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission, either online at: www.ftc.gov or at (877) IDTHEFT (again, keep a copy of this report for your records).
• Contact, directly, companies or businesses that you think may have been affected, alerting them to the problem right away.
• Close any accounts that have been accessed or you think may be accessed; this includes bank accounts, credit card accounts, etc.
• Keep detailed records of your contacts. Start a file with copies of all reports along with information pertaining to who you spoke with, when, and what the expected outcome is to be.