Tips To Prevent Against Elder Fraud: Part 3 - Care In Kansas City

Elder financial abuse costs older Americans more than $2.6 billion per year. Follow these three steps to identify and protect against elder fraud.

1. Recognize the “red flags” of fraud.
2. Recognize the signs of victimization and how to help.
3. Inform and educate on how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.

The 3rd step in fighting telemarketing fraud is to...

Inform older people about how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings they receive...

and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.

• Avoid getting on sucker lists. Don’t fill out contest entry forms at fairs or malls—they are a common source of “leads” for con artists. Ask companies with whom business is done not to share personal information with other marketers.
• Eliminate junk mail. Use a service such as Tonic Mailstopper (precycle.tonic.com) to stop junk mail from being delivered.
• Know the “Do-Not-Call” rights. Under federal law, a telemarketer can be instructed not to call a number again. Call 888-382-1222 or register online at DoNotCall.gov.
• Know who the telemarketing company is. If it’s an unfamiliar company or charity, check it out with the state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau. Check out a business online at BBB.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews.
• Screen calls. Use an answering machine, Caller ID, or other services available from the phone company to help determine who to talk to and who to avoid.
• Have a plan for speaking to telemarketers. Before the phone is answered, know what questions to ask or what to say. Be polite, but firm. Hang up if someone refuses to answer questions or any “red flags” of fraud are detected.
• Know that a phone number may be collected. When a company is called, the number from which the call is placed can be displayed through Automatic Number Identification (ANI). If the call is about an account with the business, this enables the customer service representative to pull up appropriate records and provide help faster, but ANI can also be used for marketing purposes. Ask what information is being collected and tell the company if you don’t want to be put on a marketing list.