Markets Wired

U.S. consumers are being inundated with prerecorded “robocalls” from companies claiming they can negotiate lower credit card interest rates – for a fee.  The Federal Trade Commission urges extreme skepticism about these offers, because many of them are fraudulent.

In a new consumer alert, Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Scams, the FTC says consumers have just as much clout with their credit card issuers as these companies do.  It urges consumers to avoid paying middlemen, and negotiate directly with the credit card companies.   

To learn more about managing credit cards and avoiding phone scams, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt178.shtm.

The FTC, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has free information to help consumers manage their personal finances.  Visit www.ftc.gov/moneymatters to learn more.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(FYI interest scams)