TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis warns Floridians of a new scheme where scam artists impersonate cable company representatives and cold call consumers offering discounted cable packages if you pay for a few months up front. In the recent report, the Better Business Bureau states that scam artists trick unsuspecting customers into shelling out hundreds of dollars for nothing in return.
 
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Imposter scams are the top reported fraud category in Florida with over 28,700 reports so far this year. I cannot stress enough the importance of verifying the companies that call you to ensure they are legitimate. With technology advancing rapidly, scammers are able to come up with creative ways to trick consumers into losing their hard-earned money. Please visit FraudFreeFlorida.com to report potential fraud if you believe you have become a victim of this or any other scam.
 
4 Tips to Avoid Cable Scams
 
1. Avoid prepaid debit or gift card payments. Legitimate companies will never require you to pay with a prepaid card. Money sent this way cannot be recovered.
2. Be wary of unsolicited calls. Companies you already conduct business with are not likely to call and pressure you into signing up for cable packages and ask for up-front payment by prepaid debit cards.
3. Do your research. If it sounds too good to be true, investigate the deal. Call your cable company directly to confirm that the promotion is legitimate.
4. Don’t entertain people that show up on your doorstep. If you weren’t expecting a visit from your cable provider, confirm the individual's identity with the cable company.