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Better Business Bureau president warns seniors about telemarketing schemes _ eniors continue to be Slhe targets of elaborate telemarketing schemes to defraud them of their money, says Ric Borski, presâ€" ident of the Better Business Bureau of Midâ€"Western Ontario. And the biggest reasons they‘ve become targets is that they‘re simply around for more of the day to be approached by these shady dealers. "Senior see more of these types of things happening because they‘re at home," Borski said at a workshop for seniors held at the Waterloo Rec Complex last Thursday. "The rest of us see it when we come home from work." The latest ripâ€"off has peoâ€" ple calling back a 1â€"900 number to claim a prize they‘ve earned on a scratch and win card they got through the mail. What the victim of this telephone scheme doesn‘t know is that they‘re being charged $5 or more for each minute they‘re on the phone. While the prize process is being dragged out, the perâ€" son on the phone is on the hook for a continually growâ€" ing phone charge. That charge later appears on their monthly phone bill. "It‘s outâ€"andâ€"out fraud," said Borski, whose local bureau of the BBB is celeâ€" brating 25 year of service this year. "The gift is worth a couple of dollars and a lot of these things are being run by organized crime." ks The numberâ€"one rule in claiming a free prize is that if someone is asking you for money, then the prize isn‘t free. It‘s time for the buyer to be aware. Borski said organized crime has become more and more sophisticated in how it parts people with their money, knowing there is more profit in a telephone scam than in robbing a bank. "Once a person gets fooled by one telemarketer ot one company, their name gets sold around and they end up on all kinds of lists," said Borski. "Just the volume of phone calls with all kinds of schemes and things can be overwhelming." The perpetrators of these crimes also serve less time for a fraud rap than they would in a case of an armed robbery, even though they might get away with more Looking for a new or ( preâ€"owned BMW? â€"~â€" By Bos VrBaNaC Chronicle Staff Li 0 T l e 527 King St. N. WATERLOO (519) 885â€" Come visit our new home money The other racket that occasionally pops up is the workâ€"atâ€"home scheme that promises participants $40 to $50 an hour in wages. They‘re nothing more than hidden pyramid schemes that will give callers the bare outline of how to ‘take‘ other people, just like they‘ve been taken. "It‘s not a great idea unless you call work at home defrauding other people," said Borski, who receives at least 100 calls a week inquirâ€" ing about this scheme. Seniors or anyone unsure of a promise made over the phone can take a few simple steps to protect themselves, said Borski, whose agency receives 1,000 calls a week voicing complaints or lookâ€" ing for information about area and other businesses. They can ask for a return phone number or _ an address. The can also ask for references if the telemarâ€" keter wants to provide a serâ€" vice. If the telemarketer doesâ€" n‘t have this simple informaâ€" tion at hand or refers you to a virtually untraceable post $4.00 ADMISSION CVA & Fing March 3 & 4. Bingemans 1380 Victoria Street N. Kitchener Saturday 10â€"5; Sunday 11â€"5 \3&? ) â€" SENIORS $3,00 â€" 12 & UNDER FREE «Li office box, then you know something‘s fishy. _ "If there‘s no detail on how to reach them, then they don‘t want to be reached," said Borski. In addition to these ruses that have people reaching out and defrauding someâ€" one, _ the _ Internet _ has become _ a _ tremendous source of separating people from _ their â€" hardâ€"earned money. It‘s become a popular thing for seniors and others to use eâ€"commerce sites to do their shopping, especially when the weather outside is frightful. But the same rules apply, particularly when givâ€" ing out personal informaâ€" tion. "If you‘re buying anyâ€" thing online or using a credâ€" Art 1 17th Annual K it card, get references," said Borski. "For instance if you‘re buying prescription drugs, talk to your doctor and make sure that they‘re safe to use." If you can‘t reach them to complain, then they don‘t want to be reached, said Borski. "They don‘t want to be contacted by you if you‘re not happy with the end result of your purchase," he said. For more information about telephone or Internet scams, â€" call the Better Business Bureau at 579â€" 3084. 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