There was a time when life went at a slower pace.
Neighbors really did chat over the back fence, and phone calls seemed longer, ending with a polite "Goodbye," rather than with the ubiquitous and somewhat dismissive "I'll let you go now."
We had time to talk.
The politeness of those bygone times still resonates with some of our seniors. They like to talk, and don't have the same harried need for instant, brief, communication. Some of them still write letters, and most will talk on the phone longer than their younger counterparts may elect to do, choosing texting as their primary way of discourse.
But the retention of those polite tendencies not to cut off a conversation, or hang up, is what some scam artists rely upon when trying to victimize our older citizens.
It's a myth that the only older people who are victimized by telemarketing fraud are senile or lonely. The criminals who engage in this fraudulent behavior are very skillful and many times it's hard to tell whether they are legitimate or not.
Some common signs that the person who calls may be trying to scam a victim are: if they want you act quickly or the deal will expire; if they ask for personal information; if they ask for a payment before you get can detailed information on something they say you won; if they ask you to wire money (especially to a foreign country); if they tell you that a relative is in trouble; or if they refuse to send you printed information before you purchase merchandise or make a donation.
If you are a family member, friend, or caregiver for someone who is older, disabled, or who suffers from a cognitive deficit, there are some warning signs to look for that may indicate that they've already fallen for a telemarketing scam or that someone is trying to scam them.
They have lengthy phone conversations with a stranger that they describe as a friend; they receive many magazine subscriptions perhaps on topics they normally would not be expected to have an interest in; they are making unexplained payments to individuals in foreign countries; they are having difficulty paying their normal living expenses; there are unexplained recurring charges on their credit card statements for services or merchandise that seem inconsistent with normal purchasing patterns; or they are receiving inordinate amounts of junk mail, such as sweepstakes entries.
Seniors can try to protect themselves by signing up with the National Do Not Call Registry at 888-382-1222 (www.donotcall.gov), by not signing any documents before reviewing them with a trusted advisor, and by shredding bills and other documents before disposing of them.
For more information about telemarketing fraud, visit the National Consumer League's Fraud Center at www.fraud.org. Telemarketing fraud committed against an elder should be reported to the local Adult Protective Services agency. To report such an incident, call SeniorCare at 978-281-1750. Outside normal business hours contact the Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-922-2275.
Anne Springer is the public relations director of SeniorCare Inc., Cape Ann's local area agency on aging. To reach SeniorCare, call 978-281-1750.
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