If you're 60 or older, you may be a special target for people who sell bogus products and services by phone. Fraudulent telemarketers try to take advantage of older people on the theory that they may be more trusting and polite toward strangers. Older women living alone are special targets of the scam artists. It's easy enough to fall prey to their sales pitch.
Telemarketing fraud is a multi-billion dollar business in the United States.
Every year, thousands of consumers lose from a few dollars to their life savings to telephone con artists. That's why we encourage you to be skeptical when you hear a phone solicitation and to be aware of the Telemarketing Sales Rule , a law that can help protect yourself from abusive and deceptive telelmarketers. Says you have to act right away or the offer won't be good. Instructs you to wire money. Offers to have someone pick up a payment from your home.