PRAGUE Many honest entrepreneurs are crushing the coronavirus, but the so-called scandal is also short-lived. Although the classic demonstrations of overpriced goods were eliminated, unfair business moved to the phone and to the virtual world. To conclude an unfavorable purchase contract, all you have to do is say: “Yes.” And even on the phone.
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“I can confirm that we record more addressing of seniors by phone, or in the form of spam and fraudulent sites than by direct personal contact,” Jiří Fröhlich, spokesman of the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (CTIA), told Lidovky.cz.
The change in the habits of dishonest traders and speculators is also confirmed by the non-profit organization Život 90, which cares for and helps seniors. It is on them that dishonest people focus intensively.
“The pandemic did not stop the scumbag business, it just changed it. Due to the fear of infection, which older people now have, and also due to government measures, demonstration events for which a bus for seniors was brought are out of the question, “František Horák, who is a psychological counselor in Život 90, described for Lidovky.cz.
“Because of this, the scoundrels started to use telephone pressure more than was usual before the covid period,” Horák added.
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During the second second wave of the pandemic, the beginning of the heating season expanded the scope of the dishonest: the so-called energy smugglers began to call people more and more over the phone. They promise trustees “advantageous” contracts for the supply of electricity or gas.
Concerns about the disease limited the desire of older people to participate in demonstration events, but at the same time recorded the dishonest. With regard to the pandemic, the “traders with fear” managed to expand the range with goods that are supposed to “guaranteed” to protect against covidem-19. For example, a lamp is available which, according to fraudulent vendors, in addition to coronavirus, also protects against 5G radiation. It can be purchased on Czech websites at a price of seven to 48 thousand crowns.
Retirement in the order of the lowest tens of thousands on the one hand and on the other hand a voice coming from the phone, which uncompromisingly says that without buying a miraculous vacuum cleaner, this call will definitely not end. Its price is equal to a few monthly pensions, but what about the dust and bacilli, which shorten your life every day without it! The aim of the scoundrels is to evoke fear, to shock, to give the impression that there is nothing left but to buy overpriced goods anyway.
“They target older consumers the most, they come up with a story and try to scare them. They immediately offer an ‘advantageous’ solution, “described Jiří Fröhlich, a spokesman for the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (CTIA).
Certain defense: do not take over the goods
And the goods must be sold, virus nevirus. Well-known methods such as demonstrations or door-to-door sales during a pandemic remain forbidden, so scoundrels have focused on pressure by phone or through spam and fraudulent websites – but there is an even bigger problem with tracking them down.
“If the seller provides false or no contact information on the website when setting up the website, the operator of the fraudulent website also remains anonymous for the Czech Trade Inspection Authority,” Fröhlich confirmed.
Therefore, the only way to defend oneself from fraudsters is not to take over the goods at all. “When the customer takes it over, it is almost impossible to return the goods within the legal period of 14 days. It is not possible to call back – it is often a one-way line. And if they send the goods back by registered mail with a delivery note, no one will take it over, and even if they do, the money will not be returned, “says František Horák from the non-profit organization Život 90.
Therefore, in addition to fear, dishonest people use ignorance and often send goods, even though they did not receive the coveted “yes” on the phone. “Seniors often do not know that they do not have to take over the goods, so they take them over, even if they did not want them, and they are in the same situation,” Horák describes, “the only thing left for seniors is a court solution, but they usually do not have the money. “
Protects against covid and 5G
In addition to regular household products, in recent months, scoundrels have not been ashamed to capitalize on people’s fear of coronavirus. For example, they have newly included in the offer “miracle” lamps or some kind of frequency generators, which are to be “guaranteed” to destroy coronavirus.
In Czech e-shops, trusted customers can buy a lamp called Somavedic Medic for up to 50,000 crowns, which, in addition to coronavirus, is intended to protect users from allegedly harmful 5G radiation.
Other traders fear 13,000 for the frequency generator, which is designed for “quick virus elimination”. There is even information on the page for the client what frequency to tune specifically for coronavirus disposal.
Just say “yes”
“During this period, we are also encountering more practices of so-called energy blacksmiths, who persuade people over the phone to change their electricity and gas supplier, while using loopholes in the law that allow for change over the phone,” Horák said. The CTIA has been fighting “energy auctions” for several years.
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“In fact, it works by fraudsters offering consumers a free change, which they arrange for them under a power of attorney. However, they earn commissions themselves. This means that they transfer the household to a specific supplier, and they often don’t care under whom, especially when they have a commission. At the same time, you do not know what kind of supplier it will be, at what price and under what conditions it will supply you, ”Fröhlich explains.
Although the Czech Trade Inspection Authority has succeeded in empowering millions of fines, the amendment to the Energy Act, the approval of which the parliament is still postponing, is definitely intended to prevent energy wages from fraudulently doing business.
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