Talk of the town : Telemarketing calls mount up by 80 percent
【明報專訊】According to the latest data by a call feedback website, users reported more than 160,000 person-to-person telemarketing calls in the first nine months of 2023, an increase of nearly 80% compared with the same period last year.
There have been many promotional calls about loans and mainland real estate sales. Even though Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards has been fully implemented since 1 March 2022, there are still no relevant laws to regulate these person-to-person telemarketing calls currently.
Also, there are suspected scam calls such as those asking to verify eligibility for the government's consumption vouchers. Some citizens disclosed their personal information and suffered a loss due to these calls.
Nowadays, some merchants fabricate important information through phone sales, and some people use person-to-person telemarketing calls to cause nuisance and defraud others. According to the Consumer Council, a common method used by criminals is the use of various "offers" or "gifts" as bait before obtaining personal information from the victims. Criminals talk the victims round until the victims pay or sign a long-term contract, causing financial losses to them.
■Grammar Booster
Talk someone round
"Talk someone round" is a phrasal verb, which means to persuade somebody to accept something.
E.g. I tried to talk my father round to an increase in pocket money.
■Game
Which call should I be alert to?
A. (+852) 5xxx xxxx
B. 3xxx xxxx
C. (+852) 2xxx xxxx
(Suggested answer on next text)
■Glossary
disclose (v) 透露
fabricate (v) 偽造
defraud (v) 詐騙
bait (n) 誘餌
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view to rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第390期]
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