Polite Seniors Victimized By Telemarketers

Older Americans who fall victim to telemarketing fraud aren’t stupid. They’re just too polite.

That’s the reasoning of the American Association of Retired Persons, which was launching a new phase of its fraud-fighting campaign this week.

AARP plans to train people how to hang up on telemarketers making suspicious offers and has a new set of public service announcements ready to run nationwide.

The group, which advocates on behalf of senior citizens, urges people to get off the phone quickly. Research indicates that many older Americans are uncomfortable hanging up on someone, so the campaign will urge people to devise an exit line in advance.

Some ideas: “I’m just the housekeeper,” “They don’t live here anymore,” and “Thank you, I’m not interested.”

AARP research indicates that telemarketing victims, who are more likely to be over age 50, are not “lonely, isolated or confused.” Rather, most are well-educated, well-informed and socially active and have higher-than-average incomes.

“They’re active and informed, but a lot of them are having trouble ending the call,” said Bridget Small, who is coordinating the campaign for the AARP. “The longer they listen, the greater the chance they’ll get caught on the pitch.

“We’re urging people to end the call quickly,” she said. “Use whatever method is comfortable for you to get off the line.”

Telemarketing scams have included offers of phony prizes, sham investments and fake charities.