The Texas Attorney General released a statement last Wednesday highlighting a scheme that is unfortunately targetting Spanish-speaking Americans. Complaints are detailing phone calls placed to these consumers by so-called employees of a non-profit agency saying they qualify for a free federal government English course. The consumers are asked for personal information and are later told they don't qualify after all and need to pay $500 for the course. Those who refuse to do so are told they have a verbal contract and are threatened with a lawsuit and told they will have a court date.

The thing to remember about cold calls offering free products is that nothing in this world is ever truly free. Find out what strings are attached and then make an informed decision for yourself. Get the contact number of the person calling you and tell them you will call them back when you have had a chance to think about it. Additionally, think about getting yourself on the national (www.donotcall.gov) and state (www.texasnocall.com)  do-not-call lists. If you receive a call from someone that is unwanted, the best thing to do is just hang up the phone.