As the Times Journal advises, Be Skeptical, Be Rude – Don’t Be a Victim

Each year, nearly 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud. Senior citizens are more at risk of telemarketing scams than any other age group. Fraudulent telemarketers direct 56 to 80 percent of their calls at older adults.

Evidence indicates that offenders believe older people have more assets and are more susceptible to excitement tactics or appeals to altruism. They have told police their ideal “mark” is an elderly person, who lives alone, with no contact with family members. They know that senior citizens will not give money or personal information to just any stranger. These experienced criminals have made a science of gaining the trust of older adults.

If a smooth talker wants to keep talking and you are concerned about his or her motives, cut the call quickly or even just hang up the telephone.  Follow up some of the principles involved in Assertiveness Training and stay in control of the conversation.  One trick is to have a short phrase that is easy to say, which is guaranteed, when repeated several times, to cause the caller to end the call. That could for example be “This is not for me.”

Scam artists are experts in establishing rapport to steal seniors’ money. There are a variety of approaches including:

• You have won a prize, but must pay to receive it;
• Great deals that need immediate payment with no written information;
• Requests for donations for mysterious charities;
• Calls from the supposed police, FBI or bank officials asking for “help” and your personal information.

Criminals assume that senior citizens will not report the crime to law enforcement officials because they will be ashamed of being victimized.  They also worry that concerned family members will take control of their finances.

Recognizing scammers is important and you then should report them to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.  This is critical to protect others. When you report a scammer, you help the police prosecute them and this stops the scammer from stealing from someone else.

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