AARP and Attorney General Launch Fraud Fighter Call Center""
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-09-15 12:40:00-04:00
Maybe you've heard the pitch.
The urgent voice on the other end of the line often sounds legitimate.
But in fact, you're probably on the line with a criminal. Consumers lose billions of dollars every year to various kinds of consumer fraud. According to a study conducted by AARP, people over 50 years of age are targeted relentlessly and account for more than half of all victims.
Now we're fighting back. AARP has teamed up with Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna to launch the "AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center."
Trained volunteer Fraud Fighters are turning the tables on con artists, ironically using a favorite tactic of the criminals they are determined to stop. Using calling lists seized during law enforcement raids of fraudulent telemarketing boiler rooms, AARP is warning consumers that they've been targeted. These same lists, commonly referred to by criminals as "sucker lists," are typically sold and resold among various con artists looking for their next victim.
Now instead of hearing a smooth sales pitch from a crook, consumers are receiving important information and protection tips about the latest scams. The AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center plans to reach out to more than 100,000 consumers in its first year.
Fraud Fighters Are Ready to Help
AARP Fraud Fighters are also offering to assist Washington residents if they suspect that someone they know is in danger. A new AARP survey (November 2006) shows that nearly three-quarters of Washington adults (72 percent) are concerned that an older family member or friend will fall victim to a scam.
It can be difficult for family members or friends to raise the issue of suspected fraud. Finances are such a personal topic, and many people are unsure of how they can help or whether or not they should intervene. A call from a peer, or from someone who isn’t as close to the victim, can sometimes make a significant difference. A 2003 report by AARP and the Department of Justice showed that consumer education and peer-to-peer counseling can lower a victim’s willingness to respond to fraudulent pitches by over 50 percent.
AARP has set up a toll-free hotline at 1-800-646-2283, and is urging people to call if they have questions about consumer fraud, or if they are concerned that someone they care about is in danger of being victimized. In addition to receiving consumer protection resources and contacts, the public can request that a trained volunteer Fraud Fighter contact a family member or friend to provide peer counseling messages.
Resources For You
If you would like to receive a free copy of AARP’s Fraud Fighter Handbook, fill out our online order form. This informative publication includes consumer protection tips about a wide range of issues including online safety, charity scams, ID theft prevention, foreign lottery scams and the psychology of fraud. Additional information is also available by clicking on the links in the “Related Articles” section below.
Volunteers Needed
If you're ready to join the fight against fraud—we're ready for you! AARP is recruiting new Call Center volunteers in the Seattle area. Volunteers will receive training from experts in the field of consumer protection and law enforcement, including information about the latest in consumer scams and proven tactics to prevent victimization.
For more information about this exciting volunteer opportunity, call (206)517-9353 or email.
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