Fraud fighters like Geoffrey Groff-Smith and Floyd Gossett Jr., right, have contacted about 250,000 people since 2006 to warn them about the latest telemarketing scams. Photo by Gary Matoso

Summary
• Telemarketing fraud cheats people of $40 billion a year.
• Don’t give out personal information over the phone.
• Latest cons involve fake Census takers and ‘pfishing’ the unemployed.

Fraud fighter Charlene Whitworth is on the phone with a woman who says someone just tried to run a telephone scam on her. Bertha Blackhart, 84, gave her checking account number to a “personable young man” but can’t remember why.

The next day, the Spokane resident felt stupid and called her bank. Fortunately, no money was taken. “I don’t think as clearly as I used to,” said Blackhart.

Whitworth, a 71-year-old retired nurse who volunteers to help people avoid consumer rip-offs, advised Blackhart to sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.

Con artists' sucker lists

On this day, Whitworth is one of eight volunteers staffing AARP Washington’s fraud fighter phone bank in Seattle. They’re calling older people around the country—some of whose names showed up on con artists’ sucker lists seized by law enforcement—and advising them how to guard against the latest rip-offs. The Washington fraud fighters, one of seven call centers around the country funded by the AARP Foundation, have called about 250,000 people since 2006. They can be reached at 1-800-646-2283 or online.

Telemarketing fraud is an estimated $40 billion industry that victimizes about 12 percent of adults every year. Scammers also use e-mail and regular mail. The most common victims of sweepstakes and lottery fraud, where targets are asked to send money to collect their prize, are older women with limited means who live alone. But younger people who consider themselves financially savvy also get snookered.

“They are people who are worried about having enough to live on and are tempted by the caller’s promise of a more secure financial future,” said AARP Washington program director Jean Mathisen.

Besides phony sweepstakes and lotteries, classic cons include investment scams involving bogus products or ventures; charity scams seeking donations for nonexistent programs; and identity theft scams where callers lie to obtain bank account and Social Security numbers.

These days, phone fraudsters are representing themselves as Census Bureau employees to obtain personal information to run identity thefts. Don’t give out any information to these callers. And unemployed people should watch out for phony job recruiters fishing for personal information for the same reason.

“We notice that con artists are very quick to shift their focus to new vulnerable populations,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna, R, who works closely with AARP’s anti-fraud project.

McKenna says it’s tough to take action against con artists because they’re difficult to locate, and prosecutors often are short of staff and resources to investigate fraud.

The attorney general's advice:

• Never send money or give personal information to anyone who contacts you by phone.
• Get an unlisted number or caller ID.
• Be a little suspicious about the callers.

Some chronic fraud victims are unable to stop answering the phone and writing checks. Geoffrey Groff-Smith of Bellevue is a fraud fighter because his wife was repeatedly victimized by sweepstakes scammers. She would send checks for $500 or $700 to cover “taxes” on her winnings.

“She’s the gullible type,” said Groff-Smith, who, like his wife, is in his 80s. “It’s hard for her to say no to anybody.” He adds that she suffers from moderate dementia.

“She still has a little bit of belief that there’s some chance she might someday win,” Groff-Smith said. “How do I disabuse her of that thought?”

Harris Meyer of Yakima, Wash., writes about health issues.