When Charlie Conman Calls : Especially the elderly should learn how to fend off telephone scams

Sobbing, the 78-year-old woman was telling the man on the telephone that she had lost her life savings. He did not seem to care. Impatiently, he demanded $100. When he sensed he wouldn’t get it, he sentenced her: “You are going to your grave a loser.”

That bit of cruelty was heard by authorities too. The call was taped as part of federal and state investigations into telemarketing shakedowns, a kind of fraud that costs the victims, mostly elderly people, about $40 billion a year. Staggering.

The con artists, whatever they’re selling, work with attack-dog aggressiveness. Once they choose their victims, they call them incessantly, sometimes five or more times a day, urging them to buy something or contribute to some phony cause.

The offers can include an appeal for a nonexistent but impressively named charity, a promotion with a “guaranteed prize” or the “perfect investment for a person like you.” And here’s a beaut: The caller will offer to help the victim recover money lost to other marketers.

The swindlers’ tactics are classic. They know when to relax their target with a “honey” or “sweetheart” and when to go to the whip, a vile tactic to use particularly on an old person who might enjoy having a conversation and can’t imagine that a caller would take advantage.

The man who lashed at the elderly Colorado woman heard sobbing on the tape was located by the authorities in San Diego and may be subject to prosecution for fraud. He was among 400 arrested in the recent crackdown.

New con artists quickly spring up to replace those forced out of operation. Consumers must learn to protect themselves. When the next huckster rings, demand to know the caller’s name, organization and the nature of the call. Keep a record of calls. Expect courtesy. Don’t let anyone call you at inconvenient times and don’t let anyone tell you what to do.

If you want to break off a telemarketing call, just tell the pitchman you’re going to hang up and do it. Never give out bank account or credit information. For more information, call the National Fraud Information Hotline, (800) 876-7060.