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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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New Day, New Ways for Granite Staters to Get Scammed

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Wednesday, April 6, 2011   

CONCORD, N.H. - With each new day, new ideas are born for the scammers who aim to liberate people from their hard-earned cash. According to a new AARP poll of Granite Staters, it's a top concern for those in the 50-plus set.

Bob Denz, a former FBI agent and a volunteer for AARP New Hampshire, says seniors are targeted more often than other groups because of a perception that they tend to be more trusting and because they're often available to answer phone calls, e-mails or the door. The scams are constantly changing, Denz says. Currently, many are taking advantage of the confusion people may feel regarding the Internal Revenue Service and tax issues, Social Security or prescription drug benefits.

"When someone calls them up and they offer a lifetime supply of drugs for $200, or someone is asking you to sell your drugs or use your benefits for someone else, or someone pretending to represent the Social Security Administration or Medicare over the phone - and agencies just don't do that."

Some seniors are reluctant to report these crimes out of embarrassment, Denz says, but scams happen all the time and the best way to help stop them is to report them to local law enforcement and the Consumer Protection Bureau at the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office.

Scammers are using the economic downturn to play on people's fears, Denz says, especially because many have seen their retirement savings shrink. He offers some of the sales jargon that should serve as a warning sign or "red flag":

" 'Your profit is guaranteed.' 'It's an amazingly high rate of return.' 'There's no risk.' 'I'll get you the paperwork later.' Another one, a good one, is, 'You'd be a fool to pass this one up. Let's do it today because it's not going to last long.'"

Some scams center around home improvement, Denz says, so people should make sure they're dealing with a reputable business before giving anyone a deposit to have work done on their homes.

Because new scams are constantly evolving, AARP offers workshops around New Hampshire to help people avoid these ripoffs. More information is online at aarp.org/nh.


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