Protecting Yourself From Telephone SCAMS

According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud. People over 50 years of age account for about 56% of all victims. Last year almost 9 million Americans were robbed of private financial information. A recent phone operation into Massachusetts was the Canadian Lottery scam. A caller, posing as an IRS representative, told elders they had won the lottery, but first they had to pay taxes on the winnings—by Western Union or check.

Recently, thieves used a list of World War II veterans and retired teachers they bought from a company that owns a database of 210 million US consumers. People who enter sweepstakes or who buy mail order items end up on lists like this that are sold to scam artists.

Telephone scams can involve phony prize offers or travel deals, and fake charities. The FTC warns seniors to listen for the “buzz words for fraud,” which include:

• Act "now" or the offer will expire.
• You’ve won a "free" gift or prize---if you pay for "postage and handling.”
• We need your credit card or bank account number or, our courier will pick up your check.
• You can’t afford to miss this "high-profit, no-risk" offer.

It’s illegal under federal law for a telemarketer to call you if you have asked not to be called. They must tell you it’s a sales call, the name of the seller, and what they are selling — before they make their pitch. Callers are not allowed to withdraw money from your checking account without your express, verifiable authorization.

If you get an unwanted call, you can say: "I don’t do business with people I don’t know," "Please put me on your ‘Do-Not-Call List,’" "I need written information about your offer.” The simplest response is, "I’m not interested. Thank you and good-bye." It’s not rude to hang up on a scam artist.

The FTC recommends that children talk to their elderly parents and remind them not to make any deals over the phone, and never give out information about your bank accounts or credit cards unless you have made the call, and know who you are speaking with.
If you suspect you’ve been called by a scam, file a complaint with the FTC by calling (202) FTC-HELP. To reduce telephone sales calls, send your name, address and telephone number to: Direct Marketing Association, Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014.

Put your home phone and cell phone on the FTC’s Do Not Call list by calling (888)-382-1222 or going to www.donotcall.gov. You will still get calls from charities, political groups, surveys, or companies with which you have ties. Sign up for the Massachusetts Do Not Call list by calling (866) 231-2255. State residents can file a complaint about phone scams with the Attorney General at (617) 727-8400.

Special Program Pays Caregivers

An innovative program that has helped Massachusetts elders and younger adults with disabilities remain in the community is undergoing a major transformation.

The MassHealth Adult Family Care Program (AFC) matches individuals who need assistance with activities of daily living with host families who provide those services in a home setting. Services can include assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, incontinence management and other personal care. The new Enhanced Adult Family Care program will now be able to meet the needs of individuals requiring a higher level of care. In addition, it broadens the spectrum of caregivers who are eligible to participate to include most family members. Families or hosts, as they are called in the program, receive about $18,000 to provide care that prevents or delays institutional care.

"People express a clear preference for being cared for in a home setting," said John O'Neill, Executive Director of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, which provides the program in a number of communities in Greater Boston. "Enhanced Adult Family Care is a wonderful option for MassHealth beneficiaries who would like to receive care from a loved one in a home setting."

The guidelines of the new Enhanced Adult Family Care Program are based in part on another state program called, Caring Homes which is open to non-MassHealth eligible elders with complex medical needs. "This program is built on the foundation of family care giving," said Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care. "Sons and daughters will love this program because it allows them to be paid caregivers to their parents."

The Enhanced Adult Family Care program will not only allow elders and persons with disabilities to move into a caregiver's home, but will allow a caregiver to move into the individual's home. Participants must be 16 years or older and meet MassHealth financial and clinical eligibility standards. Caregivers may be any friend or family member other than a spouse, parent, or legally responsible relative and must meet qualifications specified by the state.

MassHealth pays for Enhanced Adult Family Care if an individual is financially eligible for MassHealth and requires physical assistance with at least three of the following activities: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, ambulating, eating; or, physical assistance with two of the activities above and management of behaviors that require caregiver intervention such as wandering, verbally abusive behavioral symptoms, physically abusive behavioral symptoms, socially inappropriate or disruptive behavioral symptoms, or resisting care.

To learn more about Adult Family Care, Caring Homes or other in-home services, call the SCES Aging Information Center at 617-628-2601 ext. 3151.