Telemarketers, internet schemes and door-to-door scam artists are an increasing problem for most of us. Seniors are often more vulnerable to their ploys, and are consequently frequent targets of cheaters and frauds. How can we help protect ourselves and our parents from scams?

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has compiled a list of some of the most common threats facing seniors today. The “Senior Citizen Protection Manual”  includes “red flags” and suggested protections for:

• Telemarketing scams
• Sweepstakes promises
• Fraudulent charities
• Estate planning
• Investing, securities and insurance
• Real property transactions
• Home improvement and repair
• Travel clubs
• Door-to-door sales
• The internet
• Dental care
• Health care scams
• Hearing aids
• Home health care

The pamphlet contains some good, common-sense advice, and points out some of the areas where seniors, especially, might be vulnerable. On the subject of sweepstakes solicitations, for example, it points out that “a purchase is never required” for entry, and in fact it would be illegal for the company to give any advantage to purchasers over those who simply fill out and return the entry form.

Not sure about the charity calling for donations? Pay close attention to its name, even though it may sound familiar, or similar to another, more recognizable charity. Ask the caller if he or she is a volunteer or a paid solicitor. Ask for annual reports before giving money—it will help weed out those “charities” that pay most of their earnings to the fundraisers. [Want to know more about some of those “charities”? Check out the Charity Navigator, where you can look up the worst offenders, including ten organizations that pay more than 75% of their earnings back to the for-profit organizations they hire to solicit funds]. 

Perhaps you (or your spouse or parent) has received a telephone solicitation encouraging purchase of a living trust. Did the salesperson tell “tales of devastating financial impact (such as high taxes and high probate costs)”? That should put you on notice that the come-on is not professional. An even better indicator: if the salesperson tells you not to contact your lawyer or accountant.

Elders are getting online more frequently, and that is of course a good thing. Most of them know that those e-mail messages telling them to log in and “update” personal information are bogus. “Just because a company has an internet site does not mean it is legitimate”—or who the site claims it is. Be suspicious of any e-mail or website that encourages you to pay by debit card rather than credit card, as there are fewer protections available for your debit card.

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