Attorney General Warns of Phone Scam Targeting Seniors

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 29, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today warned consumers of a phone solicitation scam offering Arizona seniors an identification card that is supposedly being sent to all U.S. senior citizens.

The Attorney General’s Office has learned that seniors are receiving calls from someone offering the phony ID card. The caller then offers a “medical card” that requires the person’s name and bank account number and sometimes pressures the senior to provide this information.

This is a scam! These phone calls are fraudulent and are an attempt to gather personal information that could be used to steal personal identifying information and personal financial information.

Goddard offered the following tips:

  • Be wary of callers who insist on gathering personal information. If you are being pressured, hang up.
  • Do not give out personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account numbers or credit card numbers, to anyone you do not know.
  • Report any suspicious calls to the Attorney General’s Office at 602-542-5763.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763; in Tucson at 520.628.6504; or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1.800.352.8431. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has 32 satellite offices throughout Arizona with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov.

Please visit the Web site to sign up for scam alerts and weekly messages from Attorney General Goddard.