Digital TV Scams
Is it any surprise that scammers are working on cashing in on everyone’s confusion. For most people, the switch over to digital TV will be as easy as pie. No action is needed for most sets sold since 2004 which already have digital ready tuners. However, an estimated 20 million own an older analog TV set that receive signals from an outside antenna or rabbit ears. These folks will need to purchase a digital-to-analog converter box.
Help from the government can be found at www.dtv2009.gov where you can get a coupon worth $40 towards a converter box. The boxes sell for $50-$70.00. These coupons can be redeemed at Best Buy, Walmart and Sears. The steps it takes to get the converter box can be confusing for some, which brings in scam artists. Here are some of the scams:
Tax Rebate and Grant Money
Emails are going out offering DTV grant money to start a business selling digital TV’s. Or you may get a tax rebate check. No such thing. You are supposed to forward the check plus some of your own money to the scammer to buy these special TV’s which you then turn around and sell for a profit. You will never see any TV’s.
Work-at-Home Job
Similar to the grant money, you send in your resume and are “hired” to sell digital TV’s. You are paid a commission up front. In return you are asked to send in money to receive your first shipment of TV’s.
Expert Installers
You don’t need to hire an expert to install your converter box. The boxes come with color-coded cables that correspond to those on newer TV sets. If you need help, get guidance from the store where you purchased the box.
Find answers to your questions about the DTV switch at http://bulletin.aarp.org/digitaltv. Or visit www.dtv2009.gov. Or call 1-888-388-2009.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
It’s pathetic that there will always be some scalawag, grifter, or con artist out there looking for some way to make a mark. If it’s not online phishing and those Nigerian 510 e-mails, it’s people taking advantage of the less informed or confused consumer who still is clueless about the digital switchover.
Are you prepared? What kind of TV do you have? Are you connected to cable or satellite?
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