CCOSD

Beware of mailings focusing on senior citizens and the deaf community

This is mentioned in Kansas City Star (newspaper).

By TONY RIZZO and JOE LAMBE
The Kansas City Star
“Law enforcement agencies Monday were warning the public — especially the deaf community and senior citizens — about two suspicious mailings seeking money and personal information.

The FBI is warning senior citizens about an official-looking survey that seeks money and personal financial information.
Although not labeling it a scam, the bureau said the mailing is not connected to the U.S. census or any other federal agency, although it looks similar to a legitimate census document.

The mailing purports to be a “2010 Census of Senior Citizens” and asks recipients to answer survey questions and says the results will be shared with the president of the United States. Questions concern health care and other senior-related issues. It solicits donations ranging from $15 to $25 so additional surveys can be sent to other senior citizens. It also asks for credit card information if people want to donate.

“It is not the official census, and the census would never ask to send money,” said FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton. “As always, we caution providing any personal and or financial information to unverified entities.” Patton said the FBI doesn’t know of anyone in the Kansas City area having provided money, but it wants people to be aware.
“If you did not initiate the contact, be very cautious about providing any personally identifying information or financial information,” Patton said.

Also on Monday, Johnson County prosecutors warned that thieves are focusing on deaf persons in letters or an Internet scam. Victims are told they are on a special list to get government money, said Steve Howe, Johnson County district attorney. Included in the response is a request for name, address, occupation, sex, date of birth and e-mail address with a password, he said. That information allows scammers access to personal account information, Howe said. He asks that people report such letters or e-mails to fraud teams at Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL or Google……” 2/1/10