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Scam artists frequently target seniors with telemarketing and mail fraud schemes. Tempted by a "high-profit, no-risk" investment opportunity, seniors all too often sign away their life savings to a nonexistent business. A few agencies have begun to offer resources to fight back against this widespread criminal activity and to seek out and prosecute those who engage in elder fraud.
According to information on the United States Postal Service website, several types of mail and telemarketing scams that targeted the elderly and include:
- home improvement and repair scams
- phony inheritance scams
- fraudulent health, medical, and insurance products
- sweepstakes and lotteries
- government look-alike mail
- free prize or free vacation scams
- phony job opportunities or work-at-home schemes
As part of Operation Roaming Charge, U. S. Postal Inspectors and other law enforcement agencies have convicted 64 individuals for fraud, and Postal Inspectors have responded to over 158,000 mail fraud complaints since 2003. To file a fraud complaint, or for tips and publications about avoiding telemarketing and mail fraud, visit the U. S. Postal Inspection Service website.
The National Consumers League also offers a website addressing elder fraud with tips for dealing with telemarketers and instructions for putting your phone number on the national "do not call" list. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission has information online about avoiding fraud.
February 2005
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