Ruth to the Rescue reveals tricks used by scammers; learn how to protect yourself

DETROIT – How do con artists find their victims? And how can you protect yourself?

Those are two questions that Ruth to the Rescue recently asked Consumer Reports senior editor Tobie Stanger, who has researched the different ways that con artists use to prey on their victims.

"They'll suck them dry any way they can," Stanger said.

She said con artists collect names for their scams from public places such as obituaries. They also get their hands on legitimate mailing lists of people who have purchased products that are primarily sold to senior citizens.

Once they have the names, the first point of contact could be a letter asking for personal information -- a phone number or email. It may appear harmless, but it's a mistake to respond.

"The scammer now has in their hands something that shows that someone is willing to respond to a suggestion," Stanger said. The names of people who do respond are gathered and put on a list, a list you'd really rather avoid."

Stanger said the lists are called "sucker lists."

"These are people who have already responded to a mailing, and they're sold among scammers. The names might be worth $6 each," she said.

It's important that anyone who receives unsolicited contact by mail, phone, text or email not respond.

Squeezing you for more money

Anyone who has fallen for a scam and given up money has opened the door for con artists to continue pressuring them for even more money.

Stanger gave the example of a case involving a woman who lost $300,000.

"And the person said, 'Well, why don't you open a credit card? Or you could take a loan off your life insurance?' Which, she did," Stanger said.

How do the con artists keep getting away with it? Many times, they convince victims to keep the whole situation a secret. When someone isn't talking the situation through with others, there's no opportunity for someone to share the realization that there's trouble, or advice on how to get away from it.

"So what happens is they're then in this little vortex, this little contained environment, in which the scammer can tell them anything," Stanger said.

Most disheartening is when con artists play off seniors' emotions.

"They are willing to talk with these scammers because actually the scammers are giving them companionship," Stanger said. "Some of these seniors, they know they're being scammed and they don't care because it's somebody who appears to care about them and ask about them."

Other things to remember

  • Do everything possible to avoid responding to unsolicited offers. Get caller ID and train yourself to not answer the phone unless you recognize the number. You may think talking to the scammers and telling them to go away solves the problem, but it may only encourage more attempts to reach you. 
  • Be very selective about signing up for legitimate raffles, contests, or mailing lists. The more lists your name is on, the greater chance that list could fall into the wrong hands and open the door for scammers.
  • If someone contacts you about an offer that seems too good to be true and tells you to keep it a secret, it's very likely a scam. Train yourself to get second opinions about any offers that come your way. Sometimes it takes another person to question the offer to make you realize something isn't right.
  • Do your due diligence. If you don't want to ask friends or family, search the internet for more information. Many times there are stories online about scam artists and complaints from people who have been ripped off. If the scenario sounds similar, you'll know you need to pull the plug. 
  • If you have seniors in your family, take a little extra time to talk to them about any phone calls, letters, or emails they receive. Make it part of a casual conversation, and show an interest in who they might be talking with when you're not around. If you're asking your senior about these topics, they may be more likely to reach out when they get an suspicious unsolicited offer.
  • Do what you can to make sure your older relatives aren't left alone and lonely. Make sure they're not looking for companionship from a friendly voice on the phone. Some scam artists will strike up relationships with seniors, calling them often, and playing the role of concerned "friend" until they can find the right button to push to steal money.