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What Does A Scam Sound Like?

Scam artists are experts at using the telephone to establish a rapport with seniors. To get you to agree to their pitch, skilled scam artists will take the time to connect with you personally and emotionally. Beware of unknown callers and listen for these common catch phrases that indicate a scam.

It’s Often a Scam If….

* You won a prize but must pay to receive it. Legitimate sweepstakes won’t ask for administrative fees, customs, taxes or other payments because it’s illegal.

* The offer sounds too good to be true.

* You must pay for the offer instantly – including the added “convenience” of an arranged wire transfer or courier pick-up.

* An “agency” offers to recoup money that was lost in another fraudulent scheme.

* The same company continues to call. Legitimate companies will remove you from their call lists if you request. If the problem persists, call the Federal Trade Commission at 877-FTC-HELP to report the problem.

* The caller offers to repair your credit report (for a fee!). Nobody can clean-up a bad credit report if the information is accurate.

* The offer is a “secret.” Scammers often request to keep an offer a secret so friends and family will not question its authenticity.

* No written information is available. Scam artists succeed by sabotaging your ability to think through an offer and often state there is not time to send materials.

* Caller does not disclose specifics on donation/charity. Legitimate charities will provide references and disclose the percent of donations that benefit the charity as well as how much of donations are used for administrative costs.