Chances are the senior citizen will never see that money again. These and other scams are considered gross criminal activity with severe penalties. But, let s face it, for as many criminals as are caught and stopped, that many and more take their place. The potential victim should simply tell the caller they want to think about the offer and then ask for a number that they can phone back. Any resistance or reluctance on the part of the caller, or pressure to decide right away, is a strong hint that the call is probably a scam.
Information is another great defense against all types of fraud.
A number of Internet sites provide helpful information on various frauds and false companies. There s a link to Fraud Against the Elderly with many tips throughout the site. For instance, they explain that, when we get those telemarketing calls from people who sound good, kind and honest, we often fail to make the link with criminal activity. Local television is another good source for fraud information. Often, a local news program will air a consumer segment with alerts about scams and fraud.