Feb 20, 2006 7:08 pm US/Central
Texas AG Cracks Down On Senior Scam
TEXAS (CBS 11 News) ―
The state attorney general is suing three north Texas businesses. They're accused of misleading senior citizens to get personal information.
The suit claims the companies sent out unsolicited official looking documents asking for personal information.
"What these companies have been doing is sending out mail pieces (like this) that look like official governmental documents including return addresses for places like Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.," said Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General.
The companies claim they'll keep senior citizens abreast of Social Security and Medicare issues. The Attorney General's office says it's all a scam to get personal information for sales leads for insurance, financial and other telemarketing companies.
The lawsuit seeks $20,000 for every violation, plus $250,000 for acts that harm anyone 65 or older.
"These companies are fooling senior citizens into believing they have to respond to these mailings or risk losing their Medicare, Social Security or other government benefits. These businesses are operating this nationwide deception from Texas, and Texas will be the state to stop them," Abbott said.
The Attorney General alleges the three are violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by not disclosing in their mailers which companies or individuals are using the returned personal information.
Consumers who believe they may have been defrauded by a deceptive mail business may file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office by calling toll-free (800) 252-8011 or clicking on the link below.
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