Attorney General Abbott Urges Seniors To Just Hang Up

MIDLAND, December 13, 2004 - Attorney General Greg Abbott today encouraged senior Texans to “Just Hang Up” on unsolicited telemarketing calls. Attorney General Abbott especially warned seniors about a growing number of telephone callers that promise multi-million dollar prizes from fake international lotteries and schemes that have cost Texans millions of dollars.

One solution is for Texans to “Just Hang Up” on unwanted callers who use unconscionable tactics to separate seniors from their life savings, the Attorney General said. The tactics include demanding money in advance as a requirement for collecting what turns out to be a non-existent prize.

“Senior Texans grew up in a more trusting time, when people told the truth and made deals on a handshake,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The devastating nature of today’s scams makes it essential that seniors remember how easy it is to ‘Just Hang Up’ on criminals who try to take advantage of them. Hanging up the phone is simple, effective, and it can save you thousands of dollars.”

Attorney General Abbott was joined in Midland by two area residents who were targeted by scam artists.

Miles and Miriam Powell said that earlier this year they lost more than $1,500 in a Canadian lottery scam. Miles told Attorney General Abbott he received a call from someone claiming he had won $11.9 million in a contest. However, the 77-year-old was asked to send nearly $1,000 up front to pay taxes on his supposed cash prize. He wired the money to Canada and was then asked for an additional $600 to pay taxes and insurance on the “winnings.”

Attorney General Abbott also told the story of Mrs. Willette Miller, an 85-year-old Texan who lost approximately $84,000 to crooks who told her she had won a multi-million dollar prize in the Canadian lottery. Over the course of several months in 2002 and 2003, she wired numerous payments abroad, often in excess of $3,000.

Since February, Attorney General Abbott’s office has received reports from more than 100 seniors throughout Texas who collectively lost nearly $500,000.

“Sadly, this represents only a fraction of the money lost in scams against seniors. Too often, seniors are not reporting these scams out of embarrassment or because they don’t know where to go for help,” Attorney General Abbott said. “I’m asking all Texas seniors who have fallen prey to these scam artists to come forward and contact my office or local law enforcement.”

As part of the “Just Hang Up” effort, Attorney General Abbott developed a poster and newsletter that his office is making available through the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us. The poster and publication features Willette Miller and highlights her ordeal at the hands of scam artists.

Both items are available by calling the Consumer Protection hotline at 1-800-252-8011. Seniors can also call the hotline to report scams or to obtain additional information on how to spot common schemes.

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