Your “grandchild” calls from Canada desperately pleading for you to send him money. Do you send it? You receive a sweepstakes check in the mail for $500, but you must wire-transfer cash first to cover taxes. Do you do it? A charity calls and wants you to make a donation to its cause. Do you donate?
I’m leery of all of the above, especially the “grandchild” scheme — since we have no grandchildren — and usually hang up quickly after my usual response, “Phone soliciting is not welcomed here.”
I remember in my 20s and my California days, how excited I was to have found a round-trip flight from San Francisco to New York for only $300. I mailed the charter flight company $300 and awaited my ticket. After calling them several times, only to hear once more, “Tickets will be mailed next week,” I began to get nervous thinking about my upcoming trip … without a ticket! Headlines in the local newspaper revealed that the scam artist had been busted and his victims would never see their money again. So much for that dream trip!
Paul Stern, a longtime Bothell resident and retired Boeing engineer, fights these scam artists — not with his fists … although I’m sure he’d like to … but with his commitment to Fraud Fighters, a group of trained volunteers working through the Washington State Attorney General’s office, the Federal Trade Commission and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Paul says, “Fortunately, I was never a victim of a scam,” but adds, “I was recruited into the organization by John Barnett, currently president of AARP volunteers, while we both attended a conference on elder abuse held in Bellevue every year.”
Paul notes, “The Fraud Fighter program is the brainchild of Dr. Doug Shadel, AARP Washington state director, and co-author of the book ‘Weapons of Fraud,’ a source book for fraud fighters.”
Volunteers at the Fraud Fighter Call Center, under the direction of Jean Mathisen, reach out to consumers offering tips, resources and information people need to protect themselves from fraud and abuse. A so-called “sucker list” represents a valuable tool for scammers and is sold among multiple con artists looking for victims. During law-enforcement raids of fraudulent telemarketers, this list is seized. Fraud Fighter volunteers telephone folks named on the list to alert them of scams and make sure they don’t get taken again.
Paul has experienced that the volunteers’ phone calls have helped out in unexpected ways.
“Two incidents occurred while I was making phone calls,” says Paul.
In both cases, Paul talked to elderly ladies who were incoherent on the phone and obviously in trouble. He was able to locate the Senior Services in their area, one in Port Angeles and the other in Spokane, and sent the caseworkers to check on them.
People aged 50 and over are particularly vulnerable and can receive, and be charged for, unwanted magazine subscriptions, or even lose their entire life’s savings. This age group accounts for more than half of all fraud victims. Every scam produces the same result — someone gets ripped off!
Paul and the volunteers inform the public about charity scams involving the Haiti earthquake, and scams involving donations for the fallen Seattle area police officers. They also alert people to hidden fees, erroneous charges on bank and credit card statements and utility bills. If you suspect a family member is in the midst of a scam, contact the Fraud Fighters toll-free hotline at (800) 646-2283.
And … when your “grandchild” calls demanding money be wired to him, ask him for his telephone number and that you’ll call him back. Chances are, he’ll hang up.
Suzanne G. Beyer is a Bothell resident.
