While telemarketing is a legitimate and important industry in Canada, it is also an industry rife with frauds and deceptive practices. Unfortunately many telemarketers often are unaware that the company they are working for is engaged in deceptive practices.

The Canadian Competition Bureau has identified 10 signs or red-flags that you might be working for a deceptive telemarketing operation. They include:

1) Problems getting paid or payment in cash only.

2) High number of customer complaints.

3) Negative names used to describe customers.

4) Unclear sales pitches.

5) Misleading sales pitches.

6) You perform regular, short "verification" follow up calls. 

7) Company name is not posted on its door.

8) Company changes its name often or uses multiple names.

9) Promotions are based on deceptive or aggressive sales tactics.

10) Customer service department does not receive in bound calls.

Working for a deceptive telemarketing operation could lead to criminal charges. If you suspect you are working for such an operation inform the police or RCMP, the Competition Bureau, and the BBB.

The content in this article is referenced from:

http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html

For more information on deceptive telemarketing please visit this helpful resource.