Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is issuing an alert, urging caution to seniors who may receive a telephone call from “AFD Medical Advisors”, selling a prescription drug discount plan or referencing “Medicare” and requesting a bank account number.

BBB is receiving roughly 60 inquiries each month from around the country, and has received fifteen complaints from thirteen states in a very short time period. All complaints are from children filing on behalf of an elderly parent.

Complainants report that their parent received an unsolicited phone call from AFD Medical Advisors, either advising of a problem with their Medicare program, or offering free medical prescriptions through a drug discount plan. In all cases, AFD Medical Advisors representatives requested a bank account number and withdrew $299.

The company has responded to most complaints, by making refunds. However, the company’s report is an “F”, the BBB’s lowest grade, based on the nature of (“serious”) complaints filed, information not supplied by the company and two unanswered Advertising Review requests by BBB.

The company claims to be located in Wisconsin. However, the Stevens Point address listed on its website, is a UPS store. The “suite” number is a rented box.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, the company became incorporated in Wisconsin in June, 2012. Aaron F. Dupont (initials “AFD”) is listed as the registered agent of AFD Advisors, LLC.

“ BBB is very concerned when we believe seniors are being preyed upon. In this case, every complaint to our office has been filed on behalf of an elderly parent, some who live in assisted living facilities and most who no longer have complete control over their finances”, said Kim States, BBB president. “It’s extremely important to monitor transactions and advocate for elderly parents or relatives. Often times, they’re too embarrassed to come forward after giving bank account or other personal information over the phone to an unknown caller.”

On December 6, 2012 BBB requested AFD Medical Advisors address advertising claims made on its website. AFD Medical Advisors states it is “The leader in providing clients access to patient assistance programs created by pharmaceutical companies.” In addition, AFD Medical Advisors claims to be affiliated with more than 20 pharmacies. The Wisconsin BBB requested that AFD Medical Advisors substantiate its relationship with the advertised pharmacies, as well as substantiate its title of “leader.” The Wisconsin BBB also requested AFD Medical Advisors provide the names and contact information of at least five customers who have used the advertised program along with documentation on the discount program. The BBB did not receive a response.

In addition, on two occasions BBB sent business questionnaires, requesting basic information from AFD Medical Advisors, but has received no response.

BBB did contact and receive verification from two of the pharmacies previously listed on its website, stating they are not “participating pharmacies” nor affiliated with AFD Medical Advisors. The list was suddenly removed from AFD’s website the week of February 18, 2013.

Richard J. of Arizona filed a complaint on behalf of his elderly mother, saying an AFD representative talked her into providing her bank account number. “She had no recollection of talking to (the company) and if we hadn’t been taking care of her financial affairs, this would probably have gone unnoticed. I feel this is a terrible business practice that preys on vulnerable seniors.”

Vicki T. of Mississippi filed a complaint on behalf of her elderly mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. She writes, “The caller suggested she represented the U.S. government for a Medicare Drug program and requested (my mother’s) social security number and bank account information. The consumer was misled. This was a misrepresentation of a product.”

BBB offers these tips:

• Register your phone number with the National Do-Not-Call registry at (888) 382-1222 or visit www.donotcall.gov. 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 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.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning of automated telephone calls- or “robocalls”- from a company selling “energy efficiency services,” and claiming to be associated with a Southern Arizona utility company.

Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC), which serves parts of Cochise, Pima, Graham, and Santa Cruz Counties, says that many of their members have been inundated with robocalls from an unknown company, claiming an association with SSVEC in an attempt to sell an in-home energy audit, or solar panel installation.

In other cases the callers are telling SSVEC members that their energy bill is delinquent, and they need the consumer’s bank account or credit card number to bring it back up to date.

SSVEC does offer a free in-home energy audit, but will only notify its members of their eligibility by including a notice in their energy bills, through direct mail, or through SSVEC’s member magazine, Currents Magazine.

Neither SSVEC nor BBB have been able to identify the company that is placing the robocalls. Calls placed by BBB to the phone numbers consumers reported receiving the robocalls from were not answered, and there was no message service.

BBB has also heard from consumers across Tucson who are receiving similar calls on both land and mobile lines. The calls are coming from several different numbers that have either a 480 or 520 area code. In some cases, these individuals are also being offered a free in-home energy audit. If you have participated in one of these audits and have additional information about the company associated with these calls, please contact BBB at 520-888-5353 or email us at info@tucson.bbb.org.

BBB is also urging consumers to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.donotcall.gov if they receive these calls. Under the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule all pre-recorded solicitations are illegal, unless the consumer gives the company written permission to contact them in that manner.

BBB also urges consumers who receive calls from marketers claiming to be with a utility company, to notify their local utility, file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General at www.azag.gov, and notify BBB by calling (520)888-5353.

Want to know how not to become a victim of a scam? Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises consumer to just say “no.”

Sounds easy enough. And it should be. But every day thousands of consumers do just the opposite. A few examples:

• A supposed telemarketing or survey call begins with the question: “Are you over age 18?” “Yes, of course.” You’ve just given the caller permission to take advantage of you.
• A rich widow in an African country wants to share her inherited wealth with you. “Yes!” you respond, not hesitating a second in providing your bank account number so she can deposit the funds.
• You spot the car of your dreams online for a fraction of the cost you’ve seen it elsewhere. The out-of-state seller instructs you to wire the funds and the car will be shipped. “Yes!” you respond, counting the days until the convertible arrives.

Maybe you recognized yourself in one of these scenarios, or perhaps there are others that tripped you up, such as the out-of-town contractor who left mid-job with your money or the phishing email that, as it turns out, wasn’t from your bank after all.

“Just say ‘no,’” says Larry D. Newman, a former Secret Service agent and retired senior director of corporate security for Western Union. Newman advises consumers to do what he and his wife do.

“When we get a call and they ask if we’re over age 18, we hang up.” In fact, any question that aims to solicit a “yes” is instead answered by a click.  Never – ever! – say “yes” to anyone you don’t know who calls, emails or sends a letter, he advises.

And by saying “no,” Newman adds, you effectively eliminate one of three requirements for any scam to be successful: the scammer, a non-bank financial outlet (money-wire service, for example) and you.

Below are three additional situations that tend to trip up unsuspecting consumers with suggested actions from your BBB:

Scenario No. 1

With the political season heating up, you should be extra wary of the intended purpose of all those calls you get. Is it really a candidate’s survey about health care costs? Is it really an honest request for a campaign donation? Or is it a scammer sitting in Indonesia posing as a political volunteer?

What to do? Just say “no.” You can donate to the candidate on his or her website or even by snail mail, should you wish to do so.

Scenario No. 2

You get a phone call or email from your grandson who claims to have run into a bit of trouble overseas and needs you to wire $2,500 or some other amount to bail him out of jail, fix a rental car and/or acquire a new passport and plane tickets home. And, he pleads, don’t tell Mom or Dad.

What to do? Just say “no.” If you think it might really be your grandson or granddaughter or best friend from high school, contact that person’s immediate family or coworkers. It’s almost guaranteed they’ll tell you there is no cause for alarm.

Scenario No. 3

You receive a letter announcing that you’re the winner of a mega millions sweepstakes! To receive your winnings, you’re instructed to wire $29.99 to cover taxes and fees.

What to do? Just say “no.” Or rather, toss the letter along with the rest of your junk mail. If you choose to wire the $29.99 – what if this is the real deal, right? – the only thing that will come of it is that your address will be added to the mailing lists of numerous other sweepstakes scams.

And the scammer? If he gets enough people wiring him $29.99, $2,500 or $25,000, he’ll be able to purchase a fleet of luxury sedans and sports cars and not wince at paying full asking price. After all, they’ll look nice sitting in the driveways of his vacation villas scattered across the globe. Paid for, in part, by you.

And you? Don’t you wish you just said “no”?

For trustworthy consumer tips and information, visit www.tucson.bbb.org or call (520)888-5353.