SENIORS: Stopping scams
For often-targeted seniors, detecting a con artist starts with going back to school
By MARY BETH SCHWEIGERT / New Era Staff
Joyce O'Brien can't save your life.
But she can save your life savings.
First you have to go back to school.
O'Brien, a community liaison in state Attorney General Tom Corbett's new Elder Abuse Unit, leads free seminars packed with tips to avoid the most common scams targeting seniors.
The program, called Senior Crime Prevention University, addresses an age-old adage.
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," O'Brien says.
" ... We've got victims who've lost their entire life savings."
Pennsylvania is fertile ground for scam artists. Fifteen percent of the population is over age 65 — the third-highest in the nation.
"Actually, everyone is targeted," O'Brien says. "But it seems like more seniors fall victim to scams."
Here are some of the Attorney General's best tips for stopping scammers.
• Beware of someone who comes unsolicited to your door and offers to fix a problem.
• Look for a company name on the person's shirt or truck. It's a sign of legitimacy. And who wouldn't want free advertising?
• Ask for the person's full name, phone number and address. Be suspicious of someone who offers only a P.O. Box.
• Beware of a contractor who offers a discount for using "leftover materials," or because you're a senior citizen.
• Get at least three estimates for any work to be done.
• Check out a company with the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General's Office. Ask for and contact references.
• Get a signed contract with an exact price, scope of the work, a start and end date, and the company's name, address and phone number.
• Have a trusted person review any agreement before you sign it.
• Pennsylvania's "cooling off rule" gives you three days to change your mind about goods or services sold to you in your home.
• Beware of "Mr. Nice Guy." Someone who appears over-the-top friendly may have shady motives.
• Don't let anyone talk you into buying something you don't want. If someone makes you uncomfortable or keeps talking after you say no, close the door or hang up.
• The Do Not Call list is your first line of defense against telemarketers. Make sure you're on it.
• If you are on the list and a telemarketer calls you, report them to the Attorney General's Office. If the company is fined, you'll get $100.
• Don't give your credit card, bank account or Social Security number to people you don't know.
• Remember, you have to enter a contest to win.
• If you've won a legitimate prize, it won't cost you anything to claim it.
• Be especially wary of someone who's in a hurry to get your money — i.e. asking you to wire it or offering to send a courier.
• If someone tries to get you to make a quick decision, ask them to send information, and you'll think about it. Legitimate offers will be around long enough for you to do the research.
• Listen carefully when a "charity" calls. Unscrupulous companies sometimes make up bogus names that sound like real charities.
• Don't change your estate plan without consulting a trusted attorney — even if someone offers you a "free" lunch.
• Keep a whistle by the phone. If nothing else works, blow it directly in a persistent telemarketer's ear.
ASK YOURSELF
• Do I really need this product, prize or service?
• Can I afford to lose any money?
• Does this sound too good to be true?
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HATE TO HANG UP?
Here's what to say. Then put down the phone.
• "I do not respond to telephone solicitations. Please do not call me again. Goodbye."
• "Send me information. I will call you back after I check with the Office of the Attorney General's Charitable Trust and Organizations Section. Goodbye."
• "If you want an immediate answer, my answer is no. Please don't call me again. Goodbye."
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HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS
• The new state Elder Abuse Hot Line protects seniors and takes action against people who harm them. Call (866) 623-2137 .
• To place your number on the Do Not Call list, call (888) 777-3406 , or visit nocallsplease.com.
Registration is free, but you must re-register every five years. Some callers are exempt, like charities, political parties and veterans' groups.
• To check out a telemarketer or charity, call the Office of the Attorney General's Charitable Trusts and Organizations Section, (800) 441-2555 .
• To schedule a free Senior Crime Prevention University seminar, contact Joyce O'Brien, 787-9716 or senioruniversity@attorneygeneral.gov.
Abridged
SOURCE: LancasterOnline
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