Telemarketing Quacks Smear Legitimate Offers

I feel it is significant to point out that many businesses are conducted over the phone and suffer from the negative impressions many people have received from telemarketing quacks (“How to Hang Up on Telephone Marketing Fraud,” Personal Fiance, Dec. 9).

For instance, in the last six months in my work as an executive recruiter in the high-technology field, I have had two very bright candidates turn down offers from outstanding companies from which they would definitely have already earned about $350,000 apiece.

I also regret not earning my modest commission of about $20,000 (which is a pittance, considering that many search firms would charge upward of $100,000 for such placements), a commission paid not by the placed candidates, but by the client company.

I can only surmise that in both cases the candidates chose other offers not generated by telephone-initiated contact from an outside source because of qualms of legitimacy.

Telemarketing fraud that targets the elderly is surely heinous, but telemarketers with high standards of ethics are suffering from the association as well.

NICHOLAS MEYLER

Tarzana