Attorney general Koster says 'Say no to scams'

No. It's a simple word with just two letters and one syllable. But it is a word Missouri's attorney general wants older adults to remember and to use.

Attorney General Chris Koster visited the Kennett OAKS Center on Wednesday to deliver his message of using caution and not being afraid to say "no" when approached by scam artists.

Koster's visit to Kennett was a part of the attorney general's observance of National Consumer Protection Week. Koster has been visiting this week with Missouri older adults throughout the state and offering suggestions and tips for Missourians to avoid becoming victims of frauds and scams.

"Unfortunately, senior citizens are often the target of scams," Koster said. "If you are not the person initiating the contact, then the answer is 'no.'"

As an example, Koster said if someone receives a telephone call or a mail solicitation that claims to be from their bank and asks for a return call on a toll-free number, do not return that phone call.

"Go to your own phone book, call your own banker and you initiate the contact and ask if your bank is trying to get in contact with you," he said.

One of the most popular scams often used with seniors is the so-called "grandparent scam" in which Koster said scammers will call a senior citizen claiming to be a grandchild or other family member in dire need of financial assistance. Often the scammer will tell the senior that the family member has been stranded or lost their purse or wallet and cannot get home without the grandparent's help.

Koster told the group gathered at the Kennett center that while he was traveling to Southeast Missouri on Wednesday a member of his staff in Jefferson City called to tell him of a call received that morning. He said a senior citizen in southwest Missouri saw a television report on Koster's visit to that corner of the Show-Me State earlier this week. During the video report the attorney general explained the "grandparent scam."

"He called my office just to say thank you, because that very day he had just about wired $2500 through Western Union to someone he thought was his grandson. Once he checked on it he found out it was a scam artist. His grandson was somewhere else and his grandson was safe," he said. "That scam has occurred dozens and dozens of times all over the state in the last several months."

Those gathered at the OAKS Center listened intently as Koster told of increased scamming activities during the holiday months. He said he was not trying to scare people but to raise awareness of the problem. The attorney general encouraged the nearly 50 people at the center to spread the word to their friends and neighbors on being alert to scam artists.

Joining Koster in Kennett was Tom Dirkin, Public Education Director in the Attorney General's Office. Dirken spoke to the group prior to Koster and described a number of frequent scams in addition to the Grandparent Scam.

"My best advice is to say no. Unless you are talking to a young girl in a green dress selling cookies, say no," he counseled.

He explained today's scammers and con artists are adept at using technology, including the Internet, e-mail, and telephones in addition to the tradition avenues of postal mail and door-to-door visits.

Dirken told how scammers recently gained access to the e-mail contact list of a Jefferson City priest, and then used the list to send out messages to people in the priest's parish. The message -- which appeared to be sent by the priest - told a sad tale of the priest being stranded out-of- state without funds, and asked the recipient to send funds through Western Union. But it was all a scam.

"We can spread this word (to use caution). If all of you will tell two or three of four then we can spread this message all through Southeast Missouri," Koster said. "Today in this day and age it is just easier and easier to fall prey to these situations. Be careful everybody."

One of the responsibilities of the Attorney General's office in Missouri is to protect consumer rights. In addition to his visit to Kennett, Koster has visited with senior citizens in St. Joseph, Joplin, Springfield and Jackson and will conclude Consumer Protection Week with a visit to Hannibal. Accompanying Koster on his Kennett visit was Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff.

The attorney general's Web site has also featured information on a "scam of the day" and other scam protection information throughout the week. The Web site address is www.ago.mo.gov.