Now, keep up to date with daily feeds of newly posted stories about America's Seniors...click on the box to the left

Resources for Seniors to fight fraud...Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Page:
Your first resource for consumer information from the U.S.  Government (click on the red hyperlinks to go to a site)

Visit this site  to find information on:
        Are You a Target of Telephone Scams?
Many of you have written for information about
 telephone scams. If you're age 60 or  older, you
may be a special target for people who sell bogus products and services by phone. Here’s some advice from the Federal Trade Commission.

       Charitable Donations: Give or Take
Before you make that contribution, especially
over the telephone, read this advice  from the
Federal Trade Commission.

       Identity Theft
The U.S. government's central website for
information about identity theft. This site
is maintained by the Federal Trade Commission

Consumer Product Safety Commission:
This Site contains information on publications of particular interest to older consumers.
 

       A Grandparents' Guide For Family Nurturing & Safety 
The most exciting thing about being a grandparent  is watching your own child  become nurturing. You have a special role as grandparent. This guide from  Consumer Products Safety Commission
provides sound advice.  
 

Consumer Information Center (CIC):
A clearinghouse for Federal Consumer publications.  Catalog has over 200 publications.  View these and hundreds
of other publications online (free) or order your own printed copies ($).
 

FDA Easy Readers 
A collection of easy-to-read brochures from the Food and Drug Administration —in English and Spanish - on topics such as eating well, arthritis, AIDS, and clinical trials,  available through an updated FDA Web page. 
 

Mail Fraud:
Visit the Postal Inspection Service Web site to learn more about mail fraud and other  crimes involving the U.S. Mail.  You may report mail fraud by submitting Form 8165, Mail Fraud Report, available from your local  post office, or by sending an e-mail request
to: fraud@uspis.gov .
 

       United States Postal Inspection Service Information about Consumer Fraud:
Get information about: 

Sweepstakes and Lotteries
Personal Finance-Related Schemes
Employment Schemes
Telephone Solicitations
Other Consumer Frauds
 

Medicare/Medicaid Consumer Protection Tips
Health care error, fraud, and abuse affect everyone. They contribute to the rising costs  of health care and, in some instances, diminish the quality of care that is provided. This  Administration on Aging web site provides valuable tips to protect these national services.
 And learn more about the Senior Medicare Patrol.

Railroad Retirement Board:
Report fraud, waste, or abuse to the Inspector General.
 

Social Security Administration

       Misuse of Your Social Security Number

       Reporting Fraud

Senate Special Committee on Aging 

Consumer Tips:

       Combating telemarketing fraud

       Preventing funeral and cemetery fraud

       What to do when you suspect elder abuse

       Identity theft risk management

       Avoiding charitable donation fraud

       Fraudulent "Anti-Aging products

       End-of-life care checklist for seniors

“Top 10 Investment Scams” List Released by State Securities Regulators
State securities regulators released a list of the top  10 investment scams they are combating. New to the third annual list are risky payphone and ATM investments,  often sold by independent life insurance agents, and  so-called “callable” certificates of deposit sold to older  Americans despite their 10- to 20-year maturities. 

U.S. Consumer Gateway Technology Section
Consumer.gov is a "one stop" link to a broad range of federal information resources  available online.  The technology section provides information about  making online  purchases, SPAM email, and telephone services.
 

Legal Assistance

Elder Justice Links
Useful web links to combat fraud and abuse - from the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

Consumer Information on Advanced Directiveses
Good advice from American Health Care Association
 

Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly
Established by the American Bar Association in 1978, the Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly is dedicated to examining law and policy issues affecting older persons.
 

Elder Law Answers. .
This site provides consumers with clear information on issues of concern to seniors and their families and helps to find the most appropriate attorneys for the situation.
 

Elder Law Streaming Videosos
Deals extensively with elder law issues such as nursing home abuse, Medicaid, Medicare
 and estate planning from nationally recognized attorneys.

ElderWeb
This site is the oldest and largest eldercare sourcebook on the Web. It is a research site for professionals and  family members, with a collection of over 5,000 on-site  and off-site articles about eldercare and long term care,
 including legal, financial, medical, and housingng
 issues, as well as policy, research, and statistics. 
 

H.E.L.P.
H.E.L.P. is a community-funded, non-profit (charitable) information resource for Older Adults. Its goal is to help Older Adults maintain independence  and create better futures. H.E.L.P. also assists friends and family members to help Older Adults.
 

Legal Services for Older Adults and Elder Lawaw
From the Administration on Aging the links on this page reach information sources for consumers and professionals.