TIPS FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS

Fraudulent scams affect seniors across the country in many different ways. Three of the most common scams are:

1. Telemarketing fraud
2. Home renovation fraud
3. Phony bank manager

Seniors are the most vulnerable target for con artists. In a public education video, a convicted fraud artist states, "Seniors are too nice to kick you out of their home, so just wait them out until they finally sign the contract."

• Don't forward money for a prize you are told you have won. If it sounds too good to be true - it is. Anything worth winning will not cost you a dime.
• Never pay for promotional items like pens to claim a prize.
• Don't disclose information about your bank accounts or credit cards.
• Never purchase or invest in any product or company without first checking it out.
• Don't be afraid to hang up the phone when you are pressured for more information or money.
• Never give money to persons posing as bankers, police officers or any other official.
• Don't allow people you don't know into your house to inspect your valuables.
• Don't allow anyone to do home repairs unless you called them.
• Always get two or three estimates for home repairs.
• Always check a contractor's background with the Better Business Bureau.
• People will pretend to be bank inspectors and ask for your assistance in catching a person defrauding the bank. They will ask you to give your money to do so. Close the door, hang up the phone and call the police.
• People may come to your house telling you that you need home repairs. If you did not call them, close the door and call the police.
• A person may pretend to be a police office investigating a crime. This person tells you they want to mark all the valuables in your home and it is necessary to take them to the police station to do this. Get the badge number, close the door and call the police.