Avoid Scams & Fraud

An essential part of the Mathews County TRIAD is crime prevention. TRIAD educates seniors on how to avoid being victimized by scams and fraud. Here are a few tips: 

Hang It Up!

The easiest way for a con-artist to get your money is via the telephone. Never give any personal information, such as credit card numbers, bank account information, Medicare numbers or driver’s license numbers over the telephone, unless you have initiated the call. 

Never pay for a prize over the telephone. Never agree to any offer until you have seen it in writing. 

If you are interested in buying a product over the telephone, ask the company to send you the information in the mail. A reputable company will be happy to send you the information. 

National Do Not Call Registry

Virginia law restricts telemarketers to marking calls between 8 am and 9 pm and prohibits them from calling consumers who have asked not to be called. The National Do Not Call registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. For more information, visit the National Do Not Call Registry website. 

Tear It Up!

Seniors receive mail from sweepstakes after sweepstakes, informing them that they have won a prize. That prize could be a product, service or even a large sum of money. A letter, sweepstakes notice, or other sales promotion asking you to call for more information may actually be a trap to lure you into high-pressured sales tactics over the telephone. 

If the sweepstakes is legitimate, you should not have to send any money, give any financial information, or buy anything to win that prize. If you are told you must act immediately or that the offer is only good for that day, hang up the telephone. Be wary of flashy envelopes or personalized letters. 

Companies spend millions on mailings so they appeal to the consumer. If you do not think it is legitimate, tear it up.