Video transcript: Consumer Stuff Film Fest winning entry – Detective Rhymesalot
Video Clip Title: Detective Rhymesalot
Description: Camera on small lake, pans across to find Detective Rhymesalot walking along the banks. She speaks to camera.
Music: Soft rock song plays in background
Detective Rhymesalot: Thinking you haven’t been scammed? Well think again. I, Detective Rhymesalot am here to help you discover those million dollar scams. Just call my name, I’ll be there. Wait… I think I hear my name being called!
Description: A girl sitting in a park and texting on her phone gasps. Looking distressed, she checks her surroundings.
Girl 1: Detective Rhymesalot! I need your help!
Music: Instrumental.
Description: Detective Rhymesalot runs to the girl.
Detective Rhymesalot: Don’t fear, Detective Rhymesalot is here! Tell me dear, what has occurred?
Girl 1: Something disastrous has happened! Like I’ve got no money in my account to buy a new pair of heels. How do you expect me to go to Laurence’s party with no heels? Like seriously…
Detective Rhymesalot: Get real! You’re talking about heels? There is a much bigger picture, so let me give you this lecture. So don’t be blue, lets find those clues. Let us go back to the beginning, before your shoe fitting. So I can help you get your money back and your life on track.
Girl 1: Well like, it all began this morning when I went online to buy a pair of heels and like oh my gosh they were pink and glitter and sparkly all over and I knew those were the ones.
Detective Rhymesalot: Girl, I don’t care about your heels, or the way they make you feel. All I care about is how we can deal with this issue.
Girl 1: Well, sorry Detective! Like, it all began two days ago when I received this email about a 50% off clothing sale.
Description: Transition to a flashback of the girl online shopping on her laptop.
Girl 1: (Voiceover) All I had to do was give them my credit card details and then I would receive my 50% off clothing sale – but no, nothing has arrived.
Description: Camera back on Detective Rhymesalot and the Girl.
Detective Rhymesalot: Well, let us analyse the facts. How do you expect me to react when you gave away your details all for a silly sale? Never give anyone your information over the phone, nor if they come to your home. Always ask for identification, even before giving a donation. It seems you have been scammed in an event you couldn’t withstand. So here are some tips that I have to help you protect yourself when buying. Be wary of sellers offering goods and well known brands at extremely low prices! If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is a sign of crisis. Many versions of email scams can be identified this way – if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So don’t risk the chance of paying for something that may not arrive. Looks like I better dash – Oh wait! Is that my name I hear?
Description: Camera cuts to a girl sitting on a couch in a library reading a message on her phone in dismay.
Girl 2: Detective Rhymesalot! I need your help, I think I’ve been scammed!
Description: Detective Rhymesalot enters.
Detective Rhymesalot: I thought I heard my name…What’s the matter? What happened this time?
Girl 2: Well…
Description: Transition to a flashback of the girl answering a call on her mobile.
Girl 2: I was on my phone and got a phone call that hanged up really quickly. I called them back and spoke to someone about an apparent prize I had won. Well, I had never won anything before so I rang the number they gave me – only to discover that there was no prize to be won.
Detective Rhymesalot: I don’t understand why you should be so worried.
Girl 2: Because I just got my phone bill and it is over a thousand dollars!
Detective Rhymesalot: It seems as though you have been scammed in an event you could not withstand. Your money has been taken leaving you broken. If you receive a missed call from a number you don’t know, best not answer the phone call. Especially if it begins with the number 190 because this is a sign of a scam. It appears the number you have called is that of a premium rate service which has charged large amounts of money for calling the number. You have been a victim of a mobile phone scam.
Girl 2: Thanks Detective Rhymesalot, I knew I could count on you – you have solved my case.
Detective Rhymesalot: Oh wait…I think I hear my name… I have to go for yet another moment of fame.
Description: Camera cuts to Girl 3 who is using her laptop.
Girl 3: Hmm, this looks good… Like I can win a free IPad if I just click this button and put in my details. I mean, what could go wrong?
Description: Detective Rhymesalot crouches down next to the girl.
Detective Rhymesalot: What could go wrong? You’re so lucky I came along! This offer is no more than a scam… A free IPad? That’s just a sham. Be sceptical of today’s offers because in today’s society you don’t get something for being trusting. Ask yourself ‘What’s the catch?’ and if there is an advertisement, don’t click on it if it looks too good to be true. An offer with an upfront payment is a certain sign of scam.
Girl 3: Oh my gosh! I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Thank you so much Detective Rhymesalot, you’re my hero.
Description: Girl 2 addresses the Camera in conclusion.
Girl 2: Well, that’s it for today. Thanks to Detective Rhymesalot, a lot of people were able to realise effects of scams and the strengths of the consumer message. Remember: Scams are all around us so we must be aware of this.
Words on Screen: SCAMWATCH.GOV.AU
Music: Instrumental.
Girl 2: For more information and to report a scam go to SCAMWATCH.GOV.AU
End of transcript.