Have you been a victim of a scam? Are you fearful of committing to an opportunity because you have been ripped off? Have you received threatening phone calls and emails from the IRS or others that turned out to be fake? This week, Rick talks about his encounter with the fake Giorgio Armani salesperson, and his attempt to sell Rick 3 fake Armani jackets. Join Rick and Brandon for Improv-ing Business to learn tips on how to protect yourself in a world of scam artists.
- If it is too good to be true, it probably is: As a CPA, I have conducted fraud investigations, or exposed deficiencies in internal control. So, I am skeptical in any bargain. You should always start from a skeptical frame of mind and make the other party earn your confidence. Start with “the smell test.” If your intuition is tells you “no,” go with it and don’t look back.
- Don’t venture outside of your expertise: The one thing that Gianni didn’t factor was that I don’t buy clothes. My wardrobe consists of birthday and Christmas presents. My wife buys things for me from time to time. But, I hate shopping, especially clothes. When my wife takes me to a mall, I bring a book and carry her packages. So, if you don’t know anything about an item, don’t buy it.
- Don’t let anyone pressure you: Gianna spoke very fast and tried to increase the tempo of the transaction in order to cloud my thinking. Most people will say, “I have another offer.” Or, ” This deal will not last.” Take a breath and step back. If the person continues to talk, shut him down.
- Look at all available data: If I had time, I could have looked closer at his card. Here is what I discovered after I left:
- He did not have an Armani email address. His email address is Armanirep@yahoo.it. It bounced when I tried it later.
- His address read Milano, but the phone number is in an American format 335-565-3504335-565-3504. The number was no good. An Italian number would have looked like +39 02 7602 1743+39 02 7602 1743.
- I found a number of scams on the Internet selling the same fraudulent brand. https://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Spot-a-Fake-Armani-Men-apos-s-Leather-Jacket?ugid=10000000002354776
- email: domenicoitalianfashion@gmail.com
- Here is a similar incident to one who caved in. https://www.ripoffreport.com/organized-crime/rga-giorgio-armani-r/rga-giorgio-armani-reportage-l-2d487.htm
- Don’t be afraid to say no to a “great” deal: “Once in a lifetime chances” usually come by all of the time. As I said to my son who could not close a deal with his first car, “Good deals come by all of the time. If you miss one, look for the next. But, bad deals will hurt you a long time, financially and emotionally.”
- Use the web to check out companies. Try typing in the name and the word “scam” or “fraud” after it. Many times you will get results.