National Silver Alert Program Protecting Seniors

Why should Senior Citizens be concerned?

It has been the experience of the FBI that the elderly are targeted for fraud for several reasons:

1. Older American citizens are most likely to have a "nest egg," own their home and/or have excellent credit, all of which the con-man will try to tap into. The fraudster will focus his/her efforts on the segment of the population most likely to be in a financial position to buy something.

2. Individuals who grew up in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Two very important and positive personality traits, except when it comes to dealing with a con-man. The con-man will exploit these traits knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say "no" or just hang up the phone.

3. Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don't know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or do not know they have been scammed. In some cases, and elderly victim may not report the crime because he or she is concerned that relatives may come to the conclusion that the victim no longer has the mental capacity to take care of his/her own financial affairs.

4. When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. The con-man knows the effects of age on memory and he/she is counting on the fact that the elderly victim will not be able to supply enough detailed information to investigators.

5. Lastly, when it comes to products that promised increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties and so on, older Americans make up the segment of the population most concerned with these issues.

To learn how to protect yourself, take time to read the brochures on fraud and scams, located to the right.

Source: http://www.fbi.gov

Free Annual Credit Reports

A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

That's annualcreditreport.com. Beware of other sites that may look and sound similar.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises consumers who order their free annual credit

reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports, but only with the purchase of other products.

For more information, visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/freereports/index.html

Source: http://www.ftc.gov

National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is open for business, putting consumers in charge of the telemarketing calls they get at home.

The Federal government created the national registry to make it easier and more efficient for you to stop getting telemarketing calls you don't want. You can register online at www.donotcall.gov or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222, from the number you wish to register. Registration is free.

The Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the states

are enforcing the National Do Not Call Registry. Placing your number on the registry will stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls.

Source: http://www.ftc.gov

Report Phone Fraud

Many phone sales pitches are made of behalf of legitimate organizations offering genuine products and services. Unfortunately, scammers also use the telephone to commit fraud.

That's why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) encourages you to be skeptical when you hear a phone solicitation and report it if you think the call may be fraudulent.

To report suspected phone fraud to the FTC, visit www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

Source: http://www.ftc.gov

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The content of this site is the property of National Silver Alert, Inc. Use of this content requires permission.
Silver Alert® and National Silver Alert® are registered trademarks of National Silver Alert, Inc.
The National Silver Alert® Program is not associated with the proposed U.S. Government National Silver Alert Act, H.R. 632.
The information provided is solely for educational purposes. The content is not intended to be instructional for medical diagnosis or treatment, nor it is intended to take the place of physician provided medical advice.