Frauds, Scams and Slams: Telemarketing Fraud

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Frauds, Scams and Slams Telemarketing Fraud

• Prepared by
• Jan Park, Ph.D.
• Gerontology Specialist
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
• April 2002

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Be Cautious About Phone Sales Pitches
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Why Older People are Often Targeted

• More trusting
• More likely at home
• May be lonely
• Dont like to hang up
• Dont think fraud will happen to them
• Easily intimidated by smooth talking callers
• If swindled too embarrassed to report it

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How Can You Avoid Fraudulent Offers?

• Hang up
• Rely on answering machine, let them leave a
  message
• Dont buy unless you made the call
• Ask for written information
• Ask for the telemarketers name, address, and
  telephone number

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How Can You Avoid Fraudulent Offers?

• Never make a quick decision
• Be cautious about answering surveys
• Throw away solicitations saying that you have
  won a prize
• Take advantage of the Opt-Out-Option
• Report suspicious calls to authorities

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Tips -Offs to Phone Fraud

• You must act now.
• You have won. To claim, send money for taxes or
  shipping.
• To update account information just provide Social
  Security number, bank account number, credit card
  number or other personal information.
• Someone will be by to pick up your money.
• Send money by wire or courier.
• You dont need to check references.
• You cant afford to miss this high-profit,
  no-risk offer.

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How Do Fraudulent Telemarketers Get Your
Telephone Number?

• Telephone directory
• Mailing lists
• Sucker lists

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Do You Suspect an Older Adult is Being
Victimized by Telemarketing Scams?

• Look for the following signs.
• Receives lots of junk mail.
• Gets many telemarketing calls offering valuable
  awards, prizes, and vacations.
• Persons home has many inexpensive items
  jewelry, pens, gadgets, cosmetics, and magazines.
• Writes many small or escalating checks to out of
  state companies.
• Is very secretive about telephone calls.

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As a Caregiver What Actions Should You Take?

• Dont--call the person stupid or foolish, anyone
  can be telephone scammed.
• Dont--Threaten to take away the persons
  financial or physical independences because they
  will likely become secretive about their
  activities and may come to resent you as a
  caregiver.
• Do--help the older person report the fraud to
  appropriate agencies.
• Do--emphasize that con artists are criminals.
• Do--Help the person learn how to detect
  fraudulent telephone scams.
• Do--encourage them to just hang up.

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What To Do If Scammed

• Report to appropriate agencies