State forum discusses consumer rights, fraud
by KEATON T. DEPRIEST Cheektowaga Editor

Karen Davis, senior consumer fraud representative for the Buffalo regional office of the New York State attorney general, presented information to senior citizens on how to combat fraud and make consumers aware of their rights during a forum on Sept. 27. Photo by John Rusac Purchase color photos at www. BeeNews. com\

According to the New York State Attorney General's Office people over the age of 65 make up nearly 13 percent of the U.S. population. They also represent 30 percent of victim scams.

On Sept. 27, representatives from the Buffalo regional office of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo held a community forum about consumer fraud at the Cheektowaga Senior Center. The seniors were each given bags containing information on how to prevent fraud, as well as the actions of the state government in cases involving scams.

"We are a governing body - we have laws to protect you," Karen Davis told the seniors in attendance.

Davis is the Senior Consumer Fraud representative at the attorney general's regional office, located in the Statler Towers, 107 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Her division works to block scam artists and companies, as well as field consumer complaints from people who are being harassed by creditors.

"The only way to make it better for you as a retail customer is for you to tell us what happened," Davis said.

She said the best way to prevent fraud is to be cautious and never give personal information to anyone, especially over the phone.

Davis said seniors are the most frequently targeted age group because they are the most vulnerable, especially to phone scams.

"What you're looking at is highly organized crime," Davis said.

One example of an organized phone scam is a fake credit card company attempting to acquire business by offering an account to potential customers.

She said the fake company will call and ask about private information, which allows them empty the victim's bank account and perhaps ruin their credit history.

"The important thing to remember is to call my office and report this immediately," Davis said. "Don't ever take anyone for their word, even if the name of a company such as MasterCard appears on your Caller ID. For a subscription of $30 per month, a person can alter the Caller ID and have it appear to be a reputable company."

She said fraud is happening to all age groups, not just seniors.

Advice Davis offered to all consumers was to use a MasterCard account when ordering merchandise from a catalog or over the phone.

She said MasterCard has a dispute process where a charge will be investigated for its authenticity. During the process, a hold is placed on the account so that no further transactions can be added.

Another way for consumers to prevent fraud is to stop solicitors before they begin. By calling the national Do Not Call registry at 1-888-382-1222, Davis said approximately 70 percent of phone solicitations will be blocked.

"If you call this number, and it only takes like 30 seconds, you should see a drop-off in the number of solicitors calling you within six months of calling," she said.

Every five years, she said, consumers have to call again to be added to the blocked list.

Law Department Investigator Judy Gentry Smith also presented information during the forum, offering advice for preventing identity theft.

"Identity theft is the biggest growing problem currently," she said. "Use a shredder for everything. People will literally go into your garbage and solicit information about you."

Gentry-Smith said everyone should exercise caution when providing personal information over the phone. If there is a circumstance where a consumer feels he or she may have been scammed, she said to immediately call her office.

"If we get on it fast enough, we may be able to help you and establish what can be done about it," Gentry-Smith said.

To reach the attorney general's Buffalo regional office, call 853-8404. The consumer hotline to report fraud is 1-800-771-7755. For more information about the attorney general's office, visit the state's Web site at www. oag. state. ny. us.