Tips That Can Help You Spot Fraud

Senior citizens can be an easy target for scam artists. Here are some of the reasons seniors should be aware of fraud schemes:

• Senior citizens are most likely to have a "nest egg," to own their home, and/or to have excellent credit — all of which make them attractive to con artists.
• People who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Con artists exploit these traits, knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say "no" or just hang up the telephone.
• Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don't know whom to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know they have been scammed. Elderly victims may not report crimes, for example, because they are concerned that relatives may think the victims no longer have the mental capacity to take care of their own financial affairs.
• When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. Con artists know the effects of age on memory, and they are counting on elderly victims not being able to supply enough detailed information to investigators. In addition, the victims' realization that they have been swindled may take weeks — or more likely, months — after contact with the fraudster. This extended time frame makes it even more difficult to remember details from the events.
• Senior citizens are more interested in and susceptible to products promising increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties, and so on. In a country where new cures and vaccinations for old diseases have given every American hope for a long and fruitful life, it is not so unbelievable that the con artists’ products can do what they claim.

Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud

Medical Equipment Fraud:
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.

"Rolling Lab" Schemes:
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.

Services Not Performed:
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.

Medicare Fraud:
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.

Tips for Avoiding Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud:

• Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
• Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
• Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out of pocket.
• Carefully review your insurer's explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
• Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
• Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
• Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
• Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.

Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

Tips for Avoiding Counterfeit Prescription Drugs:

• Be mindful of appearance. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert to any changes from one prescription to the next.
• Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious.
• Alert your pharmacist and physician immediately if your medication causes adverse side effects or if your condition does not improve.
• Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States.
• Be aware that product promotions or cost reductions and other "special deals" may be associated with counterfeit product promotion.

Funeral and Cemetery Fraud

Tips for Avoiding Funeral and Cemetery Fraud:

• Be an informed consumer. Take time to call and shop around before making a purchase. Take a friend with you who may offer some perspective to help make difficult decisions. Funeral homes are required to provide detailed general price lists over the telephone or in writing.
• Educate yourself fully about coffins before you buy one, and understand that coffins are not required for direct cremations.
• Understand the difference between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional services.
• Know that embalming rules are governed by state law and that embalming is not legally required for direct cremations.
• Carefully read all contracts and purchasing agreements before signing and make certain that all of your requirements have been put in writing.
• Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes.
• Before you consider prepaying, make sure you are well informed. When you do make a plan for yourself, share your specific wishes with those close to you.
• As a general rule governing all of your interactions as a consumer, do not allow yourself to be pressured into making purchases, signing contracts or committing money. These decisions are yours and yours alone.

Fraudulent 'Anti-Aging' Products

Tips for Avoiding Fraudulent "Anti-Aging" Products:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for "secret formulas" or "breakthroughs."
• Don't be afraid to ask questions about the product. Find out exactly what it should and should not do for you.
• Research a product thoroughly before buying it. Call the Better Business Bureau to find out if other people have complained about the product.
• Be wary of products that claim to cure a wide variety of illnesses — particularly serious ones — that don't appear to be related.
• Be aware that testimonials and/or celebrity endorsements are often misleading.
• Be very careful of products that are marketed as having no side effects.
• Question products that are advertised as making visits to a physician unnecessary.
• Always consult your doctor before taking any dietary or nutritional supplement.

Telemarketing Fraud

If you are age 60 or older — and especially if you are an older woman living alone — you may be a special target of people who sell bogus products and services by telephone. Telemarketing scams often involve offers of free prizes, low-cost vitamins and health care products, and inexpensive vacations.

There are warning signs to these scams. If you hear these — or similar — “lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say "no thank you," and hang up the telephone:

• "You must act now, or the offer won't be good."
• "You've won a free gift, vacation or prize." But you have to pay for "postage and handling" or other charges.
• "You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier." You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.
• "You don't need to check out the company with anyone." The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone, including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau or consumer protection agency.
• "You don't need any written information about the company or its references."
• "You can't afford to miss this high-profit, no-risk offer."

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:

It's very difficult to get your money back if you've been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:

• Don't buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.
• Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But beware — not everything written down is true.
• Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.
• Obtain a salesperson's name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.
• Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.
• Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. "What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?"
• Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay for services only after they are delivered.
• Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.
• Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won't pressure you to make a snap decision.
• Don't pay for a "free prize." If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.
• Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are — the kinds of financial information you will and won't give out on the telephone.
• Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member or financial adviser. It's never rude to wait and think about an offer.
• Never respond to an offer you don't understand thoroughly.
• Never send money or give out personal information, like credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or Social Security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
• Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.
• If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.
• If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local or federal law enforcement agencies.

Internet Fraud

As Web use among senior citizens increases, so do their chances to fall victim to Internet fraud. Internet Fraud includes non-delivery of items ordered online and credit and debit card scams. Please visit the FBI's Internet Fraud webpage for details about these crimes and tips for protecting yourself from them.

Investment Schemes

As they plan for retirement, senior citizens may fall victim to investment schemes. These may include advance fee schemes, prime bank note schemes, pyramid schemes and Nigerian letter fraud schemes. Please visit the Common Fraud Schemes webpage for more information about these crimes and tips for protecting yourself from them.

Reverse Mortgage Scams

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) urge consumers, especially senior citizens, to be vigilant when seeking reverse mortgage products. Reverse mortgages, also known as home equity conversion mortgages (HECM), have increased more than 1,300 percent between 1999 and 2008, creating significant opportunities for fraud perpetrators.

Reverse mortgage scams are engineered by unscrupulous professionals in a multitude of real estate, financial services, and related companies to steal the equity from the property of unsuspecting senior citizens or to use these seniors to unwittingly aid the fraudsters in stealing equity from a flipped property.

In many of the reported scams, victims are offered free homes, investment opportunities and foreclosure or refinance assistance. They are also used as straw buyers in property flipping scams. Seniors are frequently targeted through local churches and investment seminars, as well as television, radio, billboard and mailer advertisements.

A legitimate HECM loan product is insured by the Federal Housing Authority. It enables eligible homeowners to access the equity in their homes by providing money without incurring a monthly payment. Eligible borrowers must be 62 years or older who occupy their property as their primary residence and who own their property or have a small mortgage balance. See the FBI/HUD Intelligence Bulletin for specific details on HECMs as well as other foreclosure rescue and investment schemes.

Tips for Avoiding Reverse Mortgage Scams:

• Do not respond to unsolicited advertisements.
• Be suspicious of anyone claiming that you can own a home with no down payment.
• Do not sign anything that you do not fully understand.
• Do not accept payment from individuals for a home you did not purchase.
• Seek out your own reverse mortgage counselor.

If you are a victim of this type of fraud and want to file a complaint, please submit information through the FBI's electronic tip line or through your local FBI office. You may also file a complaint with HUD-OIG or by calling HUD’s hotline at 1-800-347-3735.