Tip: Help seniors get ruff with scammers
McGruff the Crime Dog, created 30 years ago by the National Crime Prevention Council, is the symbol of a new Safer Seniors campaign. Credit: National Crime Prevention Council
The canine in a trench coat wants to help seniors sniff out scams. McGruff the Crime Dog, created 30 years ago by the National Crime Prevention Council, is the symbol of a new Safer Seniors campaign aimed at helping older folks be less fearful, and, in his famous catchphrase, "Take a bite out of crime." Among the tips:
Free vacations, sweepstakes prizes and low-risk, high-yield investments really are too good to be true.
Beware of anyone selling cures for cancer or arthritis.
Ask for a photo ID from service or delivery people before letting them into your home. If you are still uneasy, call the company to verify.
It is illegal for a telemarketer to ask for your credit-card, Social Security or bank-account numbers as verification of a free gift.
To view the "Safer Seniors" booklet with scores of tips, go to bit.ly/mBpZl8.
