The Phone Handbook
Resources
Referral Guide
Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area)
(800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities)
(800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)
Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota
220 South River Ridge Circle
Burnsville, MN 55337
(651) 699-1111 or (800) 646-6222
www.bbb.org/minnesota
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
(888) 225-5322
www.fcc.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580
(877) 382-4357
TTY: (866) 653-4261
www.reportfraud.ftc.gov
Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 539-1500 (local)
(800) 657-3602 (Greater MN only)
www.mn.gov/commerce
Minnesota Department of Human Services
444 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 431-2000
www.mn.gov/dhs
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
121 Seventh Place East, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 296-0406 or
(800) 657-3782
www.mn.gov/puc
National Consumers League
Fraud Center
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 835-3323
www.fraud.org
Clues to a Con
Be on guard against crooked callers and other con artists who use tactics like these:
- Promise you prizes for buying products such as pens, office supplies, vitamins, beauty and health products, or “Say No to Drugs” merchandise. These products are usually sold at ridiculously high prices. You may be asked to pay $500 to $2,000 for items that are worth less than $100.
- Demand your credit card number or checking account number.
- Pressure you to act quickly.
- Keep you on the phone for long periods of time.
- Offer to send someone (often an overnight delivery service) to pick up your cash or check immediately, or ask you to wire money to them.
- Refuse to send written materials about their products or company.
- Promise to recover money you have lost to other companies.
