If a phone call offer for a two-week free joint treatment seems too good to be true, it is most likely a scam, warns the online platform “We, the users“ on the occasion of a current campaign for abuses.
The unexpected call relies on finding you unprepared for it and that is why it relies on a well-thought-out psychological approach. The conversation begins as a continuation of what seems to have already been made contact – in a friendly spirit, but maintains a professional tone through the official form of address.
“As I already told you, I am Ivaylo Ivanov and I am from the “Healthy Joints Program” department. We offer you a free two-week joint treatment. Do you have joint problems or back pain?”
Here you are expected to reveal this information that is so important for the caller so that he can continue with the scenario, which includes requesting a name and mailing address for sending a package. This question acts like the filtering question in sociological surveys. If the answer is “no”, you are automatically removed from the list of potential victims. If you answer positively, however, the “game” intensifies. The cynical thing about this case is that the target are vulnerable people - those with health problems or the elderly, for whom it is more difficult to distinguish such a scam and would easily be fooled by the illusory offer of a “good deed”, would reveal sensitive personal information and this would subsequently be used against them. The next step is to turn the offer for free treatment into an offer for a 70% discount, with the regular price of 233 leva becoming 70 leva - for a completely obscure product, from an “international company”.
However, a surprise for the person who called you on the phone occurs when you turn out to be a prepared, inquisitive and energetic “player” and ask where he has your data. Then he hears a not-so-confident answer that he has it from an external contractor's database, after which he returns to the written text and asks the main question again: “Do you have joint pain or back pain?”. If you continue to insist on revealing the source of your personal data, he replies that he is only an operator and does not have such information, but he will inform you of your request and assure you that your data will be deleted. Then it directly ends the call.
Artificial intelligence or a real person - it will be increasingly difficult for us to recognize who is on the other side of such calls. One thing is certain - there is an infallible protocol that will allow us to protect ourselves from fraud and manipulation. When making calls, always be interested in who is on the other side. Under no circumstances and for no reason do not confirm or provide additional personal information, even when promised free goods or services. Ask where they have your data from and do not accept evasive answers, but continue to insist on learning how your phone number and names reached the initiators of the call. The reaction of the other party will confirm how lawfully they process your data. In addition, you have the right to request that the processing of your data be immediately suspended, as well as to file a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Commission.