Rutherford said this company has created a website with design and photography which is the same as Philips Lifeline's website. The fraudulent call center has claimed it is located in Framingham, MA, although an investigation has traced the call center to Florida. He added that the scam company has since changed its website to a look-alike of another emergency response technology provider's website.

Rutherford further reports that at least one Midwest state's attorney general is working to shut down the scam which is apparently only interested in gaining access to senior citizen credit cards. A variety of tactics are used, including promises of free gifts, inexpensive emergency response service or free emergency response equipment.

Rutherford reported that even while efforts are underway to shut down the scam as soon as possible, because Senior Alertline is using an automated dialing system, they are reaching consumers very quickly. Worse, to compound the situation, he noted that many legitimate emergency response provides also use automated dialing to contact potential customers which can make it difficult for consumers to differentiate between legitimate and fraudulent callers.

He recommends that anyone who suspects an unusual charge on their credit card should contact their credit card provider immediately. He also stresses that consumers should not give out credit card numbers during a phone call they did not initiate.

PMH is seeking the public's assistance to help get the word out about this possible scam, especially to anyone they know who uses an emergency response device.