Jerks who con Codgers

It really bugs me when people prey on other's weaknesses particularly going after the young or the elderly.

The most recent I have come upon goes like this:

A sweet young thing calls a codger in Willard, Ash Grove or Walnut Grove. The sweet thing acts as though she is going to great lengths to make sure she has the right person on the phone. She will read of "the marks" name, ask the person to verify the spelling of name and address, all of which is available from a variety of places. Next the sweet thing says she is with either Empire Benefits or Bank of Ash Grove. {The Bank of Ash Grove is in no way complicit in ANY of this!} This strategy is brilliant in that MOST of the seniors in the area, due to lack of mobility, bank with The Bank of Ash Grove. Sweet Young thing then reads the first few numbers of the person's bank account to them. If the mark does not know any better they will think this person really does know their account number because those numbers will be at the beginning of the account number. This is the whole key to the scam. Every one who deals at the Bank of Ash Grove will have the first few numbers in common. These numbers are known as Routing or Transit Numbers it is how banks identify one from another so wherever you bank everyone at that branch will have the same few numbers at the beginning of their account. So if someone started reading those numbers to you, you might assume they really were who they said they were and when they asked you to confirm the rest of the numbers on your account you might unwittingly give it to them.

The con is absolutely legal because the conversation is taped, the sweet young thing gets the mark to read the account number aloud and say YES. By doing so they slime their way around the law and start deducting $389.00 per month out of the account which the senior thinks is for a Prescription Drug Discount Card. This same card can be bought from your insurance agent for about $10.00/month.

Please warn all lovable codgers about this scam. Right now they are working the Ash Grove Area but no doubt will soon move to a new "Hot Zone".

See you on the radio!