AUSTIN, Texas -- Spanish speakers are being targeted on home and cell phones by scam artists offering free English courses, the Texas Attorney General announced.
Callers allegedly pose as employees of a fake nonprofit agency and claim the call recipients could qualify for a free federal government English course.
The scam artists allegedly ask customers for personal information and references. A few days later, a representative of the phony organization calls the interested individual and tells them they did not qualify for the free course, and the person is asked to pay $500 for the course.
In some cases, the individuals are told they did qualify but must pay $500 anyway, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
The scam artists then insist that a binding verbal contract exists and that the call recipients must pay, officials say. In some variations, the scam artists say the course has been sent through an express delivery service even though the call recipients never receive any merchandise.
The scam artists allegedly repeatedly insist on payment and even say the call recipients are being sued by the fake nonprofit and they now have a court date.
The Texas Attorney General's Office advises that the best way to deal with the calls is to hang up on them.
Consumers can register for Texas' do-no-call list at http://www.texasnocall.comand the federal government's list at http://www.donotcall.gov.
Texans who believe they have been victimized by phone scams or who believe they have been called by telemarketers even after registering for Texas no-call list can file a complaint with the OAG at (800) 252-8011 or online atwww.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
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