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| Elder Fraud Home |
Fraudulent telemarketers
rob people every day, using phones as their weapons. These criminals
target seniors because they are generally too polite to hang up. It’s
a myth that older victims are isolated or lonely - many are active
people who are lured by great-sounding deals. Fraudulent telemarketers
aren't just pushy salespeople trying to make a living - they are
hardened criminals out to take their victims’ life savings. They're so
good at what they do, they can even persuade people to mortgage their
homes to participate in their phony sweepstakes, investment offers, and
other schemes. Sometimes they use scare tactics to sell products or
services. In other cases, they impersonate well-known companies or
charities to trick seniors. To help seniors, their
families, and others who work with older people understand the menace of
telemarketing fraud and learn how to strike back, the National Consumers
League (NCL) offers a brochure, They
Can’t Hang Up, online in English and Spanish. It describes
the “red flags of fraud” and provides advice on preventing fraud and
assisting victims. There are two ways to view the information online: by
following this link to the new They
Can’t Hang Up Web pages, or by downloading a PDF of the brochure
here. (In order to read a PDF, you need Acrobat Reader software. Click here to get a copy of the free software.) Individual
paper copies of the brochure in
English only are available for free by sending a request with a
self-addressed, stamped envelope. Bulk rates are also available. The They
Can’t Hang Up video, featuring personal stories told by real
victims and tips on how to deal with telemarketing fraud, is $20. These
materials were produced with a grant from the American Express Company.
For more information or to order materials, contact the National
Consumers League, NCL’s |