Hanging Up On Telemarketers

Older adults are prime targets for telemarketers.

They're often home during the day – bored or lonely – so phone calls from anybody are a welcome break. People with physical disabilities or even mild memory loss are easy prey for unscrupulous telemarketers.

Over half of telemarketing fraud victims are over 50. Each year con artists bilk these unfortunate individuals out of an estimated $40 billion. Older people living alone, the recently widowed, people who aren't used to money management, people with memory disorders, those with hearing loss or who don't speak English well are at high risk for phone scams.

COMMON TELEPHONE FRAUDS:

• Bogus charities.
• Phony "free" prizes. Winners pay postage and handling to receive worthless products.
• Magazine subscription sales pitches.
• Sweepstakes and lottery swindles.
• Fake investment schemes.
• Offers that expire if you don't "act now."
• Worthless vitamin supplements.
• Free vacation packages.

SIGNS THAT AN OLDER ADULT MIGHT BE A VICTIM:

• Excessive phone calls from charities asking for donations.
• Checks made out to unfamiliar organizations or businesses.
• Secretive behavior.
• Stacks of unread magazines, closets full of worthless "prizes."
• Inability to pay bills.

AVOIDING TELEPHONE FRAUD:

• Inform telemarketers not to call again. Then hang up.
• Never give out credit card, bank or other personal information unless you initiate the call.
• Consider getting an unlisted phone number for your relative.
• Register to remove your relative's name from commercial mailing lists at the Direct Marketing Association's "Do Not Contact for Caregivers" website: www.dmaconsumers.org for a $1.00 fee.