Pitman Police Chief Robert Zimmerman warns that scamming and telemarketing fraud is on the rise.

“With the warmer weather upon us, scamming artists also prowl our streets looking to line their pockets at the expense of innocent victims, especially the elderly,” he said.

“We saw an article a while back, where telemarketing scamming artists were pretending to be a Sheriff's Office in Bergen County, and were asking residents to provide credit card information in order to pay fines for failing to appear for jury duty,” Zimmerman said.

“We also, get reports locally about alleged police unions soliciting for donations by telephone. We've gotten numerous  reports about scammers claiming to be the IRS, claiming that there is a problem with the call-takers taxes. Reports were filed at our agency, where callers advised residents that they won a significant prize, but in order to claim it, they had to submit credit card information,” said Zimmerman.

“Many times, we hear of so-called contractors going door-to-door, trying to scam people for outdoor work.  Main ones are driveway coating and window replacements where so-called contractors are charging extremely high fees for bogus work. Don't ever give out credit card information over the telephone to people soliciting.  If it feels suspicious, it's probably a scam, and you should call the Pitman Police Department immediately,” Zimmerman said.

The following are some of the most common scams that the FBI investigates and tips to help prevent you from being victimized.

This information was taken from the FBI Website, and provides some very good warning signs and tips for telemarketing fraud.

When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.

Here are some warning signs of telemarketing fraud—what a caller may tell you:

■“You must act ‘now’ or the offer won’t be good.”

■“You’ve won a ‘free’ gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.

■“You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.

■“You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency.

■“You don’t need any written information about their company or their references.”

■“You can’t afford to miss this ‘high-profit, no-risk’ offer.”

If you hear these or similar “lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say “no thank you” and hang up the telephone.

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:

It’s very difficult to get your money back if you’ve been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:

■Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.

■Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true.

■Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.

■Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.

■Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.

■Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”

■Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay for services only after they are delivered.

■Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.

■Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision.

■Don’t pay for a “free prize.” If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.

■Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are — the kinds of financial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone.

■Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer.

■Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly.

■Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.

■Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.

■If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.

■If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.

Be safe! And remember, when in doubt, call the police by dialing 911!