Washington Seniors Targeted in Phone Scam

Olympia, WA - A recent telemarketing scheme appears to be directed at Washington's senior citizens. Peggy Davis wit hthe Department of Revenue has received a number of phone calls over the last two days from senior citizens who have been contacted by a telephone solicitor marketing reverse mortgages. The callers identify themselves as agents of "Seniors First."

As a lead-in to selling their product, the solicitor asks for personal information such as employment status, income, and age, under the guise of attempting to help the senior determine whether they qualify for our state’s property tax relief programs or for aid and assistance programs for veterans. The solicitors imply that they are marketing these benefit programs on the state’s behalf.

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This is particularly troubling since some of the information provided to taxpayers is incorrect. For example, one taxpayer was told he could have a refund on property taxes paid for the five previous years and in another case tenants were told they qualified for a property tax exemption on their rental home.

At this point, we want to make the public aware of this marketing campaign in case you receive calls from this solicitor. So far, Department of Revenue has received calls from taxpayers in Grays Harbor, Clark, Lewis, and Thurston counties.

If you or someone you know is contacted by this solicitor, please contact the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department with the information at 360-249-3711 and get as much information from the solicitor as possible.