EL PASO — The Better Business Bureau has a warning for you.
A nationwide alert has been issued urging seniors to beware of a telephone call from AFD Medical Advisors.
They are selling a prescription drug discount plan or referencing to Medicare and requesting bank information.
In all cases, AFD Medical Advisor Representatives requested a bank account number and withdrew $299.
The BBB offers these tips:
- Register your phone number with the National Do-Not-Call registry at (888) 382-1222 and with the Wisconsin Do-Not-Call registry at (866) 966-2255 or visit www.donotcall.gov [1]. Telemarketers who continue to call you after you have registered are subject to penalties.
- Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card or bank account numbers, date of birth, or Social Security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
- Report suspicious callers to family members, assisted living facility managers, neighbors or friends.
- Check with the BBB before dealing with any company or charity that you are not familiar with.
- Don't yield to high-pressure or emotional sales tactics.
- Consider changing your telephone number to an unlisted number.
- Check on seniors often and discuss their activities with them.
- Review their bank statements, looking for unusual withdrawals or charges.
- Remember, you may simply hang up the phone when a stranger calls.