Introducing Dear Leonard

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Introducing Dear Leonard

When a Silver Spring, Maryland senior recently took her car in for an oil change, she was told that she needed nearly $700 in repairs. Instead of going ahead, she took her car to another garage. There she was told it was in top shape. She sought the second opinion because of what she had learned through a group called Voice Of The Elderly or VOTE. The group educates seniors about and spotting scams and fraud.

VOTE tells seniors `It`s shrewd to be rude.` Over half of all scam victims are people over 55 who average one scam-type letter and two telemarketing phone calls per week. VOTE says Hang Up on pushy telemarketers, and say NO to deals that sound too good to be true.

VOTE`s president and founder, Leonard Burchman reports examples of scams, such as one in which a senior lost $17,000 through a phony lottery scheme in which she was told she had won $800,000. To get the money the con artists asked for increasingly steep amounts of cash for bonded couriers, travel plans and other fake fees.

Burchman began digging into scams when a friend told him about getting taken by an investment scam. The friend bought a few shares of stocks and when the price soared, sunk more money into them. Then the price plummeted. The broker it turned out was part of the company for which the stock was being sold, and was helping to manipulate the price.

The following are tips from VOTE`s Leonard Burchman

Basic Information Protection

More and more personal information is being made available to organizations by way of `lists` that are legitimately being sold by utility companies, phone companies, motor vehicle departments and survey companies, to name a few. You aid these companies, in part, because you give out personal information when asked.

There are certain procedures to follow that will impede the amount of information that is made available.

Never give anyone your personal information, especially if you don`t know who they are. That includes providing or confirming your address, bank account, credit card numbers, Social Security number, phone numbers or date of birth.
Don`t write account numbers on the outside of payment envelopes.
Don`t keep PIN numbers written down in your purse or wallet.
Guard your Social Security number. Do not have it imprinted on checks. If it is requested by a business, ask if there is an alternate ID that can be used. If not, ask for an explanation why the number is needed. It should NOT be used for identification purposes.
Destroy any records, cancelled checks, receipts, deposit slips, etc. before throwing them away. If you have a shredder, use it. If not tear the bills, receipts, etc. into tiny pieces and try to put them in different trash cans.
Think twice before giving personal information on `warranty cards` you return after purchasing electronics or appliances. Indicate little or no income if you fill out a survey form. You won`t be attractive to marketeers.
Pay with cash if you can. No personal information is gathered.
Request to have your Social Security number NOT be your driver`s license number.
Dial *(STAR)67 to block caller ID. Your phone number will not appear on caller ID equipment.
Write to the following to cut down on junk mail:

Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735

Do your homework when doing business with anyone. Be wary of strangers who try to ingratiate themselves with you too quickly. Beware of your own emotional vulnerability. Don`t be pressured into anything. Talk to family and friends before signing any contracts.

People need to trust their gut instincts. If something seems wrong or out of the ordinary, it often is. Remember, if it`s too good to be true, it usually is.

Source: Voice Of The Elderly, l5l00 Interlachen Dr. #707, Silver Spring, MD. 20906. Our goal is to help the elderly `scamproof themselves.` www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/8777/vote.html

May 2001