Iowa’s joined a national effort to try and cut down telemarketing fraud known as “Operation Roaming Charge.” Bob Brammer is the spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General. He says it’s a wide ranging venture with U.S. officials from several agencies, but most important he says it includes officials from other countries. He says it’s all aimed at preventing telemarketing fraud. Brammer says this should help U.S. efforts to stop calls that come in from outside the boarder. He says most of the big operations have migarated out of the U.S. and seem to be centered in Canada. Brammer says that makes it very tough to fight. Brammer says Iowans should be aware of the telemarketing tactics. He says they especially target older Iowans, and he says those older Iowans sometimes “self-identify themselves by answering sweepstakes mailings. Brammer says that puts them on a list for a bigger telemarketing scam. Brammer says you can help by hanging up on telemarketers with high-pressure offers.He says you should know there are telemarketing scam artists who’re going to try and take your money. If you have any questions, you can call the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office at 888-382-1222.
