One of our church families has been receiving phone calls believed to be a scam. This is a very common occurrence in our world today. It is wise to be alert and knowledgeable about some of these scams so we can avoid financial loss and/or identity theft. Here is some information about what to look for:
Senior scam victims in the United States hand over at least $2.6 billion to crooks every year, according to recent newspaper reports, with as many as one in every five seniors losing money.
Although today's senior citizens may be mentally sharper than ever, they still make a prime target for con artists because they generally have more disposable income -- cash nest eggs they don't need for any specific purpose -- and because they're usually more trusting.
TELEMARKETING FRAUD
While telemarketers call people of all ages, backgrounds and incomes, they often make up to 80 percent of their calls to older consumers (according to the AARP). These telemarketers often prey upon older people who are well educated, have above-average incomes and are socially active in their community. Their sales pitches are sophisticated and include phony prizes, illegitimate sweepstakes, fake charities, and bogus investments.
STEPS TO TAKE:
While telemarketers call people of all ages, backgrounds and incomes, they often make up to 80 percent of their calls to older consumers (according to the AARP). These telemarketers often prey upon older people who are well educated, have above-average incomes and are socially active in their community. Their sales pitches are sophisticated and include phony prizes, illegitimate sweepstakes, fake charities, and bogus investments.
STEPS TO TAKE:
- Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
- If you have doubts about a telemarketer’s legitimacy, be sure to ask for their company’s name and address, along with a phone number where they can be reached at a later time.
- For elderly widows, if a caller asks for the man of the house, be sure not to say that there isn’t one or indicate that you live alone.
- Talk to family and friends or call your lawyer, accountant or banker and get their advice before you make any large purchase or investment over the phone with a stranger.
- Check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups.
- Be sure to sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s Do-Not-Call-Registry. Telemarketers who continue to call you after you have registered are subject to penalties. You can sign up at www.donotcall.gov or at (888) 382-1222.
- Don’t forget the power to simply hang up the phone when a stranger calls trying to sell you something you don’t want!
For more information, please see the following articles:
