If you are around aging parents who are starting to have moments of forgetfulness, look for warning signs that are an indication they need your help. For example, mail that is accumulating on the counter may be a clue that you need to take over the bill paying.

You also want to do all you can to protect your parents from getting ripped off. Beware of "senior" scams—such as sweepstakes entries and insurance policy pitches. Consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud and people over 50 years of age are especially vulnerable. In fact, they account for about 56% of all victims, according to a study by the American Association of Retired Persons.

Scam artists often target older people, knowing they tend to be trusting and polite toward strangers. They're also likely to be home and have time to talk with callers.

Try to get a peek at your parents' mail to see if there are a lot of solicitations for contests. Take a preventive step by getting your parents on the "do not call" lists that are available in most state attorney generals' offices. It doesn't mean everyone is going to abide by that, but it could keep some of those horrible abusers of seniors—phone callers with contests and such—from making those calls.

If your parents are bombarded with calls and mailings from scam artists, here are the places you can contact with complaints:

Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Response Center
CRC-240
Washington, DC 20580
1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502

You can file a complaint with the commission by contacting the CRC by phone, mail, or filling out a form on line.

National Consumers League
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006
202-835-3323
www.ncl.net

The National Consumers League and the American Association of Retired Persons conducted research on telemarketing fraud targeting the elderly and offer suggestions for older people and their families in a brochure, "They Can't Hang Up," which is available through the National Consumers League Web site.

Protect your parents with these articles:

• Vital Information You Must Have About Your Parents Finances
• Avoiding Long-Term Care Disasters