Scammers targeting elderly

Scammers and direct marketers are hitting Wairarapa elderly in waves.
Diane Chapman, from Wairarapa Organisation for Older Persons, said since last year groups of older people involved with the Masterton-based agency have reported numerous telephone attempts to sell products, solicit donations or scam bank details.
"Last year a wide group were approached by a company selling orthopaedic beds by phone. In April at least a dozen people were called and told they had won money," she said.
"What is sinister is how these people are targeting the older person.
"It could be that the calls are being made to a wider age group.
"But it seems too much like someone has got hold of a database of the over-65s because groups of older people are all reporting the calls at about the same time," she said.
"The people that do get taken in or are pressured into buying something just want to forget about it.
"Often there's no way to recover the money anyway and they just want to crawl into a hole and forget about it."
Mrs Chapman said the agency has about 350 elderly people on its books, up to 400 who receive mobility scooter vouchers, and up to 130 people registered with the WOOPs accredited visiting service.
She said about 100 elderly people meet each month at the Masterton Town Hall for refreshments and fellowship, and there are also people involved with the agency from South Wairarapa.
The monthly meetings allow an opportunity for older victims of scam and direct marketing calls "to put up their hands and be counted", she said.
The agency has a policy of information confidentially, she said, and uses computer firewalls and internet service provider security against online attacks and practises secure document disposal.
"There are thousands of over-65s in our region and the number is growing all the time.
"Now anything to do with ageing here is a growth industry - even scamming and pressure selling."
She said the Masterton agency offers support and guidance for an older person concerned with unsolicited calls and communications and can also refer people to other social agencies or police.
"Often all the older person needs is support and advice and somebody to tell them it's OK to say no," she said.
Heather Evans, former Wairarapa Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services co-ordinator, said over the past two years she had frequently fielded reports from elderly Wairarapa people of unsolicited sales calls, scam attempts, and donation requests.
"So many don't know or understand what they're being asked when even a registered charity calls them.
"They say yes just to end the confusion and some donations are billed on their telephone accounts, so this can mean an extra $50 or $100 they have to find on a limited budget," she said.
"They just get caught up in the middle of that and when the bill falls due, they've forgotten about the call or just simply didn't understand.
"I'm against direct marketing like that, especially when they hit on an older person who may be in the early stages of dementia or have trouble standing up to the pressure of a persistent caller. That whole thing is very risky for older people."
Julie Allan, Ministry of Consumer Affair communications adviser, doubts the elderly are being specifically targeted but said the elderly are more likely being caught in a wider "cold call" strategy aimed at any age group.
Listed phone numbers include street addresses, she said, and mailing lists could often be purchased "although this is becoming more difficult because of privacy issues".
She said older people must realise "the is power in your hands to close the door, bin the letter, hang up, or say no thanks, I'm not interested".
"Older people are well advised not to give any personal information regardless of whether it's a mass marketing scam or high-pressure marketing.
"Never open an email from someone you don't know or click any attachment that may be with it," she said.
"If someone came up to you on the street and said you had just won a lottery you didn't enter, what would you do?
"It's the same as unsolicited emails, letters, or calls advising that you're a big winner. Bin it.
"Scam artists are more and more sophisticated and plausible gone are the days of spelling mistakes from a Nigerian prince and scams are tailor-made to their targets," she said.
Mrs Allan said the non-reporting of scam attempts or harassment by a seller also makes easier prey of other potential victims.
"The main reason for the under-reporting of scams is because people are embarrassed that they've been taken in it could be an issue for the Commerce Commission or police. But attempts, successful or not, should be reported in either case."
Mrs Allan said complaints about direct sellers could be made to the Direct Selling Association of New Zealand and names removed from a marketing database administered by the Marketing Association of New Zealand. Issues of privacy could involve the Privacy Commission and any questions about donation requests made by phone, mail or in person may be directed to the Charities Commission.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs will also field inquiries and reports, she said, and any suspected cases of fraud should be reported to police.