A Day in the Life of Phone Scams

I‘m house-sitting in Phoenix this summer, and I’ve been gobsmacked, to use a good British word, to realize exactly how many unwanted callers manage to circumvent the home’s do-not-call registrations.  Even worse is to realize how many of the calls expressly target senior consumers.

One of the most annoying call begins, “Hello Mrs. XXXX, I see that your physician has prescribed Xarelto for you, and I’m calling to let you know that we can offer you special pricing, at less than half what you are currently paying…..”

Suffice it to say that this was a scam.  No physician had shared any prescription information about the homeowner in question.  But for the older consumer worried about costs, I can just imagine how effective the scammer’s “guess” could be, as the scam focused on a very expensive and important drug for many older patients.  They were after credit card information.  I bet the boilerroom for this operation has a whole list of popular “senior” prescription drugs. 

Another frequent caller poses as the IRS and claims there is a deficiency on some tax payment that can be “handled” over the phone. Again, a scam — and certainly one that could frighten many people.  In a single week, I intercepted 7 such calls, despite each time attempting to make it clear I knew this was a scam, and then blocking the number.  

Perhaps the most frequent callers are those trying to market “solar” systems, guaranteeing tax credits or rebates  — and I guess that one just goes with the territory when you are living in sun-drenched Arizona.