By Curt Peterson
Scams targeting seniors is big business, according to AARP Fraud Watch Network volunteer Bill April.
“An identity is stolen every two seconds,” April told an audience at the Thompson Senior Center last Thursday July 21. “Each year 21 million people lose $19 billion through scams or fraud.”
Several in the audience reported they have received scam contacts. Many scams are performed via “robo-calls” — random phone numbers are automatically called until someone answers. Then a recorded voice explains a situation meant to inspire a senior to “press a button to speak to a representative,” a person probably located in another country where the call can’t be traced.
Lisa Jensen, executive director of the Vermont Consumer Assistance Program, a partnership including the University of Vermont and the attorney general’s office, says perpetrators target younger people too, but, as a group, seniors lose more.
Seniors probably have savings and good credit, assume people are trustworthy, want to treat everyone civilly, are less likely to report being cheated, make poor witnesses and tend to go along with anything related to mental or physical health, April explained.
Imposters can present themselves as computer technicians, relatives, investment advisors, lottery agents, debt collectors, magazine salespeople, Medicare or Social Security representatives or prospective romantic partners, all “in urgent need.” If in doubt, tell the caller you will…
