The Better Business Bureau is Warning Seniors of a New Scam Offering ‘Personal Emergency’ Alarm Systems

Charleston, SC January 7, 2015 – Seniors nationwide are reporting pushy, suspicious telemarketing calls from businesses going by the names “Senior Emergency Care,” “Senior Safety Alert” or “Senior Safe Alert.” Follow our advice to tell a legitimate sales call from a telemarketing scam.

How the Scam Works:

You receive a prerecorded telemarketing call pitching a personal emergency alarm system. The alarm, warns the recording, is necessary to protect against a long list of dangers, such as break-ins and medical emergencies. It claims that you can get an alarm system worth several hundred dollars installed for free. You are just responsible for a monthly charge of about $30.

 The recording prompts you to press a button and speak to a live person for “verification.” However, victims reported that staff refuses to provide basic business information, such as the address.

The exact details of the scam vary. The alarm business goes by a variety of names, including “Senior Emergency Care,” “Senior Safety Alert,” “American Senior Benefits Program,” and “Senior Safe Alert.” Typically, the calls appear to come from an area code in the surrounding region, but these numbers can be misrepresented.

In some cases, the sales calls are pushy but legitimate. In others, the calls are phishing scams that impersonate real businesses and seek credit card numbers and personal information. Use the tips below to tell a scam from a sales pitch. Many of those contacted by the telemarketers were on the Do Not Call Registry. If this includes you, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.“American Senior Benefits Program,” and “Senior Safe Alert.” Typically, the calls appear to come from an area code in the surrounding region, but these numbers can be misrepresented.