Yukon man warns senior citizens to be on guard

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A Yukon man is warning Oklahoma's senior citizens to be on guard against telemarketers who promise free trips and direct-mail appeals for money.

John Turneus is a 72-year-old member of the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature as well as the Advocacy Partnership for Aging Oklahomans.

In outlining the Advocacy's legislative goals, Turneus says the group wants state lawmakers to address fraudulent telemarketing and mail solicitations. They also want investigations of scams involving charities, investments and home repairs.

Turneus says the elderly are more trusting, making them easy targets to be taken advantage of and duped.

State Senator Kevin Leftwich of Oklahoma City is offering a bill allowing individuals and businesses to put themselves on a registry saying they don't want telemarketing calls.

Telemarketers who call those on the registry could face fines of up to two-thousand dollars per violation.