Business Owners Prevent Scammers Creepin' with These Tools

For real, we had this happen just this week. A scammer got ahold of our credit card number and used it to pay for Spotify premium in December. We thought it was a one-off error, then it happened again in January. Come to find out, someone with a fake email address swiped the credit card info and used it (don't get us started on companies that only have AI chatbots for customer service, you can imagine how many days of chats it took to figure this one out and fix it). Prevent scams like these and others cutting into your valuable business time by reducing the marketing outreach you receive over the phone, via email, and snail mail with these tips.

"Opting-Out"
In certain circumstances, you can tell a company not to share the unique information it has on file for you. You do this by choosing to “opt out.” Here are a few “opt outs” recommended by the World Privacy Forum. The World Privacy Forum’s “Top Ten Opt Outs” may be found here.

Reduce Calls from Telemarketers
The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home or on your cell phone. Once your number has been on the registry for 31 days, telemarketers should not call, and you can file a complaint if they do. Registration of the number does not expire. 

National Do Not Call Registry or 1-888-382-1222

Reduce Pre-approved Credit and Insurance Offers
Reduce pre-approved credit card offers and insurance solicitations delivered by postal mail by visiting this official site of the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry, which allows you to opt in or opt out of firm offers of credit or insurance.

Opt Out Prescreen or 1-888-567-8688

Reduce Email Advertisements (CAN-SPAM)
The federal CAN-SPAM Act requires commercial organizations to provide recipients of email advertisements with a way to opt out of receiving emails in the future.

To opt out, the World Privacy Forum offers this direction:
Check to make sure the email is CAN-SPAM-compliant, as some emails offer false opt outs. Here are three ways you can tell the difference.

A CAN-SPAM-compliant email will be labeled as an advertisement.

It will include:

• A valid postal address for the sender

• A workable opt-out link of some type

Then use the link provided or send the request by postal mail. You will likely be asked to provide your email address but shouldn’t be asked for sensitive personal information.

Reduce Marketing Mail and Catalogs
The Direct Marketing Association’s opt-out website enables you to manage the mail you receive from members of the Direct Marketing Association, whether it’s delivered by postal mail or email. Services may be accessed here.

Hot Tip for California Business Owners and Residents - There is a state agency that has more tools and support for this to help protect your privacy and prevent scams at the California Privacy Protection Agency.