Just Hang Up - Scams Against Seniors, Part 1 

I'm 53 and I'm on Medicare (I'm a cancer survivor). 2 weeks ago, a young woman "from Medicare" called me & was asking me a bunch of questions. She had a thick Indian accent. I told her, "if you are indeed from Medicare you should know this stuff. Just mail me some info if you're wanting to give me a service. Explain it in writing". She said I would need to talk to her "supervisor" which I knew was a translation for "ok this woman is sharp. I better go get the big gun". So this Indian guy gets on the phone & starts asking me how much I get on my HEALTHY FOODS card. And again , I said, "gee if you are indeed from Medicare you should have all of my information. Just mail me some paper".. He HUNG UP ON ME! These criminals thought they were gonna get all of my information so they could use it for Lord knows what! ALWAYS just tell them to mail the information

Unsolicited phone calls = hang up Unsolicited mail = bin Unsolicited messages = delete Unsolicited visit = call the cops.

One big red flag is when the strange voice on the other end warns you about telling the clerk behind the counter what you are doing!

My friend got a call from a scammer telling her she won 2M dollars but can only receive it if she paid a certain fine. She responded: "OK take it out of the winning and send the balance for me." She NEVER got another call from them again! I spend what I earn.

10 Years have passed since this wonderful series and scammers are still thriving. Educate yourself and your family members. It's our only defense.

I am a Senior . I simply do not pick up my phone to unknown numbers. Also I do not get involved in any suspicious mail

Absolutely DISGUSTING robbing an elderly person. This makes me sick and breaks my heart.

HANG UP THE PHONE!!! IGNORE THE CALLS!!!!

My Father always told us, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Meaning if it sounds too good to be true you cannot count on it or believe it.

I love this anchor's voice. I could listen to him for hours, literally. So peacefull, calm…

I'm a 77 year old senior and love scammers. When they call, I have a problems processing what I hear and speech problem because of a stroke. I have them repeat things 3 or 4 times and when I talk with a stutter. Then talk about my hobby collecting coins that I have been doing for 50 years. That usually keeps them talking for quite a bit longer. Then when they are through with what their scam all all about, in perfect english tell them thankyou for my entertainment and have a good day.. You wouldn't believe the language and the things I've been called.

Someone called a relative of mine and said I was in jail in Canada and they wanted my family member to wire money for my release!! Thankfully they called my mom and were able to confirm I was home and just fine. It's pathetic. Don't listen to callers.

When they mention :God-fearing," you know it's a scam. They're looking for the most gullible victims.

Lock up these scammers for long periods of time behind bars.

Norman Just broke my heart... Imagine working hard to be able to live well in your old age and loosing it all.

I wish I had the money to reimburse Norman for ALL his losses! I am so very very SORRY NORMAN!!!!

This is the saddest thing I've watched. Really broke me to tears watching how these poor elderly people are treated. We need to find these scam centers and make them pay for the lives they've ruined. We also need to provide counselling services for these elderly people who had to go through the trauma from being scammed. We really need to do better for the elderly.

These scammers will rot in hell.

I don't understand how the elderly, who are supposed to have so much life experience, are Scammed so easily? My grandmother was born in 1906 and she never gave money to anyone, let alone to total strangers! She was a very smart woman.

I feel so sad for her she’s been hurt by the people she loved most. And now this scammer. Hope he gets what he deserves

Bless you Pat Coffin. You are working in a sector that cares for our treasured people who form part of our history. My guess is that you are under paid and under valued. I mean it's wealth and status that matters right? WRONG! Without people like you there would be no wealth!

I'm a Army Veteran and even young soldiers as well as civilians become gullible, desperate and needy as long as blood flows through your veins guess what you have emotions, moods, feelings, needs and need comfort whether financial, emotional or sexual. Our logic is only clear when we tend to behave like robots instead of human beings.

Don't pick up your phone if you do not recognize the number! Or allow all your calls to go to voicemail, and when/if you know the caller then you answer the phone.

Not all seniors are gullible.. greedy. He gives us a bad name... I get these calls all day long.. I just HANG UP.

I feel sorry about this poor man, I hope those fucking scammers will burn.

May the scammers suffer unbelievable torment.

Please folks don't be greedy, needy or gullible. 🥺👍

"God fearing people" should be a huge red flag.

My dad who was in his late 80's and stroke received a phone call saying he had won a lot of money and to receive it he needed to send a certain amount of money to get what he had won. Of course I panicked and asked my dad what he did. His answer: Told them to take what I owe to receive the money I won and subtract it from my winnings and send the rest to me. I asked my dad what happened and he said they hung up on him!

first man broke my heart

You have to be so proud of this woman. Thanks for putting your life out there to help others. It takes someone like her to help others. She is a hero in my eyes thanks....

These elderly come from an era when people were decent and there was no exposure to the global cesspool of despicables. We do need to find ways to protect them using technology, law and software.

3:45 No one along the way told Norman that something wasn't right? I would think someone had the chance when he was cashing all his stuff in. A clerk, or bank teller. Someone. We really need to watch out for eachother better.

"hey you won money! you have to give us money for it." I have no idea how people can fall for this.

This is probably going to fall on deaf ears, but I have to say something here. To the commenters calling the victims "stupid" or "greedy" try, "gullible" or "desperate." Many senior citizens live paycheck to paycheck, and I'm talking a social security check. They have no one to care for them and no means to return to work. Keeping this in mind, one can start to understand how the promise of money becomes enticing. The technological world we younger folks live in is not the same world as our grandparents once knew. How dare any of you chastise them for becoming a victim. It is this same heartless attitude that the scammers have when they swindle our elderly out of money. One of these days, if we live long enough, we will be old too. I guarantee in 50 years, the world will again have changed into something wholly unfamiliar to us. I don't think any of us would appreciate the young people at that time saying we somehow to deserved to have our lives destroyed. So next time, before you open your uninformed, hateful mouths, think about what the fuck you are saying. It could be you or someone you love one day. My opinion has been stated and I will not discuss it further with any of you hateful bastards.

This is a true story folks! I was scammer contacted me once, and told me he was in Connecticut, but there were roasters in the background. The moment I heart the roaster and his accent. I knew he was in the Caribbean island, so I told him to go away. I am not being judgmental, but there is no way I could be financially scammed. I don’t understand why people are so vulnerable. This piece is overly troubling and sad. Oh dear! 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂. Cheers and 🍺 beers mates!

Before my mother went to assistant living, she was bombarted with these kind of calls and letters. My sister finally took away her checkbook.

IF you have won anything significant... you will always be notified by CERTIFIED MAIL...for tax purposes!!!!

I am so sorry Sir for your loss..My Mother was scammed for years from a family member, My Mother will not tell anyone but i know the truth.

People need to stop calling senior citizens stupid. You're going to be a senior citizen one day and it may happen to you too

Seniors are generally gullible people... I feel heartbroken for them. There's a special place in hell for scammers like that.

Selfish and greed is wgatt lead to this

Very sad stories! It is so easy to be conned when vulnerable! Thank you for this warning!

It’s still come down to “greed” . I don’t feel sorry but feel sorry .....

Scamming seniors is just foul.

this is so sad we need to educate our seniors on all these scams that are going on if you don't know who's calling then hang up your phone

I work with older veterans at my local VA Hospital. One weekend, a patient wanted me to go to Walmart and get him a prepaid gift card. A scammer called the veteran on his cellphone and said that his service would be cancelled if he did not get a giftcard. The patient was afraid his grandkids would not be able to call him anymore. I notified the Charge Nurse what was going on. The patient was very upset at me because I wouldn't help him get this giftcard. His phone was never cancelled.

During this documentary to help us,there's advertising that is scamming seniors,right here on line. Imagine that. Lol

this is painful to watch.

Scammers can be found everywhere, when you aren't even looking. The new car salesman who sells a $30,000 car to someone with dementia and can barely walk. An insurance salesman who sells thousands of dollars extra coverage for a home when it is not needed, taking advantage of the new owner's wanting to protect it. An investment broker who tells a senior to leave their life savings in the stock market or other investments when the funds are already crashing. People who "borrow" money for their own goals of school, business starts, cars, etc. with no guarantee of it being paid back. Borrowers, thieves, manipulators of all kinds have no conscience. They are everywhere. Consult with others before making major decisions.

More should be done to catch scammers

The scammers have an especially hot, torturous place in hell awaiting them.

The title of this should he called "Just don't answer the damn, phone"😡. If its really important, ler them leave a message. If you see a number that you don't recognize, don't answer it. It's very simple. I tell this to my elderly parents all the time and they do it.

The government could step in and stop a lot of this but as long as they aren't getting their money they probably won't get involved

At any age when you're vulnerable, more people will try to scam you than help you. Remember that, and you'll be OK. They will move on to the delusional and gullible.

Why are seniors so susceptible to fraud? Very smart all their lives and then so gullible later in life. If you havent bought a lottery ticket, then you have not won anything. How can you be so easily duped? Get rid of your land line. Cell phone only and block unknown callers.

How can you win a lottery if you haven't bought a ticket?

There should be heavy fines on scammers who cause immense harm,in several areas of their lives.

Interesting that there seems to be so much outrage at these scammers, yet when casinos offer senior citizens a free trip to their casino, and even include spending money, and these same senior citizens literally gamble away their SS check, where's the outrage there?

I have received 4 calls saying that my social security number has been involved in criminal activities and my S.S. # was going to be eliminated, even asked if I had a bank account. Another saying that the govenment was giving me $17,000 because I do not have a criminal record and I have not filed for bankruptcy. Wanted me to send over $200, I told them why would I send money to get money? I laughed and told him to take it out of the money I was going to get and hung up. I now do not answer. The Social Security Administration never calls. They send letters.

These elderly victims needs urgent strategic education to help to combat this wicked act. Public strategic adverts needs to saturate the country and be seen everywhere, in order to make these people aware of this cancer. This is just too painful to watch.

Imagine Norman said “fuck off I don’t gamble! So I didn’t win shit!”

Its really sad but as long as there are lonely old seniors, there will be scammers trying to take their money. Scammers try to be your friend and get close to you that's how they get your money. Seniors are so willing to talk that it make it easy for scammers to scam them.

I won a “lottery” that I never bought a ticket for???

This is not a new scam. I got an email 10 years ago telling me my sister & husband were stuck in a foreign country

If you send money to a TV preacher you go on a list and the preachers sell the list according to how much you gave.

I'm Jamaican and really can't believe this is what these criminals are doing to these elderly Americans

Last month. I too received the call about winning a PCH prize and a Mercedes Benz. I was even asked what color I wanted the car to be. I started asking questions, like if I never entered a sweepstakes, then how could I win? The guy (who had a thick Jamaican accent) then got kinda rude + asked, "do you want the prize or not?" I called him a scammer + abruptly hung up on him

Omg! How could someone do that to another human being?! It's just wrong and predatory. Those scammers will burn in Hell.

Most of these scammers are probably dead already. There is no honor amongst thieves. They constantly killing each other every day over scamming in jamaica.

I know better now! He left me after he got what he wanted,never! Never ever will I deal with anybody on social media again I don't accept friends request anymore,please watch out they are out there!!

This is so sad 😞

I wish scammers got more time in prison.

My step dad is Norman, one of the men interviewed here. SAD but TRUE story

Con artist and scammers are EVIL peoples who play with people's emotions.

No ... To help foil the scammers always press "1" and then just be silent. Don't say anything to them - BURN THEIR TIME! Their business model is a lot like spam, they are HOPING that 1000 people they call will quickly hang up on them so they get to that 1 person in a 1000 who is vulnerable that much sooner. The more we slow them down - the more likely their scam will start costing them more money than what they can steal.

This lonely old man breaks my heart. He deserves a break .

Im 62...and not once had a scammer phone me..l'm dying for one to try it on me...a fiesty old Scottish woman...my partner said.."the scammer will end up sending you money"...my mantra is.."never kid a kidder"...😆

A lot of lonely senior's probably don't get calls from lost friends & family members anymore. So when some stranger calls & act like they care, they'll use that against them pretending to be your new best friend. Getting as much information so it benefits them in the long run.

I love ❤️ getting these calls. Calls letting me know my warranty is about to expire or any of a dozen different ways to get my money. Then I save the number under the name junk, junket, Junkie,etc. each time I get a new number I add it to one of these categories. It is great as when they ring again I don’t have to answer because it comes up as a junk call. At age 84 it is just one of these little things that add a little fun to my life love ❤️ it.

What scammer can't understand is their scam will eventually catch up with them. For the time being they will make money, but just for the time being. In the long run they will feel just as bad as the people they scammed. This is the law of the universe!

Unfortunately, these scammers prey on the elderly because they have trouble with their memory and hearing. My father almost got scammed for $2000. Thank goodness my mother had the car or else he would have been at Western Union wiring money. The caller said it was his grandson (my son) that was in South America with a broken down car. He needed the money to fix the car. When we questioned him, he didn't know if the caller identified himself as "your grandson" or "Johnny". He couldn't remember if he called my dad Grampa or the special name my children call my dad. My Dad explained that my son was in South America for a school trip possibly. It's scary because my father was adamant that my son needed money until my mother and I had to prove to him he was at home getting ready for school in the morning. Unbelievable.

The government should pass laws that would put a life sentence on these criminals. If the creeps live in another country, then the government should threaten these governments with sanctions.

There's no such thing as free money.

Poor Pat, i feel so sorry for her, lonely and not well off. To hear his phone calls being so threatening I was not surprised she was afraid and had to secure her door. I know this video is 6 years old but i hope Pat is well now and able to enjoy her retirement if she could afford to retire.

What I find most devastating... is that elderly people are not selfish..... they dont look at money as just ways to take care of themselves. They look at it as money that can be used for funeral costs. Imagine being old and confused... but on top of that... you dont know if you have 15 days or 15 years to live. Leaving the burden of a funeral on your family is very hard and it can lead to believing you have money when you dont

Not only do senior's get scammed , but not so senior's also !! A friend of mines got scammed and so did her son who is in his 50,s . If I don't recognize the number I don't answer . If it is a real call for me , they will leave a message. I tell people all the time , even if you answer the phone and they start talking things you are confused about , HANG UP !!!! But people still keep talking ! SMH

nice to see that Dan Rather is still doing good work even after CBS unfairly ousted him, I hope he never retires

I hate hearing the deep horrific damage these low life's cause stealing from these good people who have worked hard all their lives so they can live and be comfortable in their retirement years, just to have scum scammers steal it from them! It makes me nauseous!!

I'd like to put all these scammers in a pile and burn em up!

The biggest lottery that woman could win is to put that cigarette down forever.

How can you win a lottery you didn't enter or have a ticket for?

Hi, I get these emails and sometimes regular mail a lot telling me if I send a thousand dollars I’ll get back four thousand bucks! I delete them and shred the ones from the mail! I also get a automated phone call about this and I just hang up!! If it’s sounds to good to be true, then it’s a scam plane and simple!! Just my experience, regards, Bob

Seems as if everyone turns their backs on her, heart rendering story, these scammers going to get what's coming to them, it's called karma.

Thank you for telling your story❤️

Best to not pick up the phone unless you know who is calling. If it's important they will leave a message.

It's hard for me to have sympathy for folks who claim to be so poor, but can spend hundreds of dollars a month on cigarettes.

So mad at these scumbags, how can they openly ruin other people's lives?

Jeremiah 17 verse The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Ain’t no strangers going to bond with me and begging for money at the same time. They are not supposed to be talking to strangers especially when they are begging for money