A phone sweepstakes fraud is harassing my dad with calls. How can we get them to stop?

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A phone sweepstakes fraud is harassing my dad with calls. How can we get them to stop?

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Has anyone had a run in with phone/sweepstakes fraud? They are harassing my dad with calls. How can we get them to stop? I know, "Don't answer the phone." But these guys are relentless and calling up to five times a day. Around 10 pm this evening it was one right after the other. When I said he needs to stop calling he said F-you.
Started with sweepstakes in the mail. " You qualify for $X. Send us $X and you can win more." He did. He sent $9 here and $30 there. He usually overdraws his account monthly. If these people aren't calling then they sold his name to a group of Jamaicans who are ruthless. And obviously rude. We've talked with my dad and he says he won't do it again but then he does. Any suggestions???

Frauds & Scams

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You can go to the postmaster general at the post office and also put a block on those letters coming through the mail. The same thing happened with my folks. You may also be able to find the form you need to fill out online at USPS website. It's been a while since I've done it but that will give you a start.

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I have found that the minute a senior replies to something in the mail or, as your father did, send money, those companies flag them and become ruthless (there should be a hot rock waiting for them in h*ll.)
Another scam to be aware of: My mother odered something from a catalog. They sent her the item and a few months later a small "refund" check which she cashed. Then she got another one so I read the fine print. It said, "by cashing this check you are now enrolled in a entertainment program." Nothing happened for a long time, then, six months later, her credit card was charged $160.00!! I called the company that made the charge and they referred me to the catalog co. I called and gave them a piece of my mind for targeting seniors - then I called the credit card co. and had them suspend the charge.
Another related thing you can do (especially if your parent cannot take care of their own finances - or you have a pilfering relative) is to place a "fraud alert" on their credit report. I think it lasts for 90 days. In that time no one can access the report or take out any loans etc. in your parent's name. The lending institution has to see picture ID before processing the loan, etc.
Third: Good luck getting rid of these leaches. To save your sanity and time, you may have to have your father's number changed to unlisted. Also, is it possible to have all his mail go to you or to a PO box so you can screen?
I have learned over the years that there are millions of scam artists out there who are just waiting to pick the pockets of seniors.

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Call your state Attorney Generals Office, Consumer Div. They can help also.

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our phone service has a service that blocks up to 20 phone numbers. We use it quite often and update it every once in a while since most numbers come up on the caller ID. So far has helped a lot. Good Luck!

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This seems to work for most all telemarketers, basically it detects when the call coming is is Auto generated via computer or similar device and simply blocks it, also I believe it emits a tone that erases your number from the callers computer system
I have used one of these for years, Works for Me!

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When I got POA for my friends, I began to monitor their checking account and noticed several checks made out to magazine companies. When I had their address changed to my address when they went into AL Memory care, I noticed these "renewal" bills coming for the magazines. When I checked the labels on the magazines and noted for how many years ahead he had subscribed, I wrote to the magazines and asked to lower that to just a couple of years instead of 9 years and they eventually sent me refund checks. It wasn't the magazines doing this but magazine "billing companies." I also alerted out state attorney general about the renewal cards made to look like bills due and she has gone after these companies. Their response is to change the company name and address and continue on, but now since my friends' mail comes to me, I catch those. Fortunately when I intercepted a phone call to them and explained who I was and that they had to talk to me instead of them, the calls stopped. When my friends went to AL, I had the phone account closed. Closing your dad's regular phone line might be smart. Have a cell phone where you buy the minutes as needed for him to use to make calls. So far, scammers haven't found our number for our cell phone. Buying the minutes means no monthly expenses for services we don't use. Only those who legitimately need to phone your dad get the new number to use.

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Go to the website for NOROMBA (stands for no more robo calls) and see if it would work for you. We have seen a drop off in these kinds of calls. Unfortunately, it doesn't get rid of all of them. Good luck.

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Also want to add that I can block calls on my phone by adding unwanted numbers to Call Block list. If they call it rings once then disconnects call..

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I was told that phone service will not block any toll free or 800 type numbers, which is kind of silly since those are the ones that are the scams. In my state, people are urged to call the Attorney General or to file a complaint with the postal service if it is through the mail.

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BTW, if any of you are trying to look it up Hedgie mis-typed, the proper acronym is nomorobo.

A phone sweepstakes fraud is harassing my dad with calls. How can we get them to stop?

34 Answers

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