SPEAKER_00: Senior citizens are prime targets for several kinds of fraud.

SPEAKER_00: Here are a few to watch out for.

SPEAKER_00: After reading about a recent death,

SPEAKER_00: the obituary con artist visits the spouse of a deceased person

SPEAKER_00: and tells a convincing story about a debt incurred by the deceased,

SPEAKER_00: often to purchase a gift for the survivor.

SPEAKER_00: Touched by the deceased person's thoughtfulness,

SPEAKER_00: the survivor usually pays the bills.

SPEAKER_00: The con artist then either disappears with the money

SPEAKER_00: the money or produces a gift that is greatly overpriced.

SPEAKER_00: Then there's the pigeon drop,

SPEAKER_00: where con artists working in pairs can front a senior citizen

SPEAKER_00: and claim they filed a large sum of money.

SPEAKER_00: They offer to share it with the individual.

SPEAKER_00: However, before the target can get it on a deal,

SPEAKER_00: he has asked to put up some good faith money.

SPEAKER_00: If the person falls for the scheme,

SPEAKER_00: of course the peer takes off with the victim's money.

SPEAKER_00: And you've probably heard about the voting bank

SPEAKER_00: who asks for help in catching a dishonest bank employee.

SPEAKER_00: The target is usually a woman and is asked to withdraw cash from her account

SPEAKER_00: and turn it over to the examiner,

SPEAKER_00: who will then check the serial numbers and catch the event.

SPEAKER_00: After the money is turned over, the victim never saved her money

SPEAKER_00: or the operator again.

SPEAKER_00: These are by no means the only con-games going around.

SPEAKER_00: As the operators are limited only by their own imagination.

SPEAKER_00: They are usually well-pest, film-light, and

SPEAKER_00: intelligent, so don't be fooled by appearances and sincerity.

SPEAKER_00: If you have been victimized or approached about a transaction such as those described,

SPEAKER_00: don't hesitate to call the police or your state or full consumer protection office.

SPEAKER_00: Using carefully prepared threats, swift phone solicitors try to entice businesses

SPEAKER_00: into buying almost anything under the sun.

SPEAKER_00: Common sales pitches include advertising space and non-existent publications.

SPEAKER_00: applications, office supplies, and specialty advertising items like calendars or personalized pens.

SPEAKER_00: Funding prizes are used to offer to make the deals more attractive.

SPEAKER_00: And both the sales item and prize are delivered COD.

SPEAKER_00: So be careful.

SPEAKER_00: Don't buy from new suppliers and see to have verified their existence and reliability.