My current medical condition is taking me away from home – and the phone – on most weekdays, so I thought I’d escaped the plethora of calls telling me my engine warranty was about to expire or that I could get the interest lowered on my credit cards. But the scammers are now calling at dinnertime, during the news and even on Sunday mornings.

The caller isn’t aware that I have neither a car nor a credit card – even more frustrating to get these stupid calls.

This must be a lucrative business to be in, or it wouldn’t be the subject of investigating committees reaching high into the government. These callers sound so trustworthy, it’s really easy to understand how a senior could be taken in. Most of us grew up with a totally different mindset than we see today. But here it is – scamming of seniors is how some make their living – and we need to deal with it.

Among others, Maine Sen. Susan Collins is active in the pursuit of these thieves. The Senate Aging Committee’s toll-free Fraud Line (1-855-303-9470) saw the numbers of callers more than double last year. Collins is promoting the new booklet nicknamed “Fraud Book.”

This comprehensive resource details the top 10 most commonly reported scams to the committee’s Fraud Hotline in 2016. For the second year in a row, the IRS impersonation scam was the most frequent scam, accounting for more than 90 percent of the complaints reported. You can get a free copy of the booklet by calling 1-855-303-9470.

I don’t know if “Heather” from Account Services, another scammer, has called you in the past, but note that the same chirpy voice, same name, is now targeting us  from “Account Maintenance” – beware!

Keep in mind, according to the Government Accountability Office, financial fraud targeting older Americans costs seniors an estimated $2.9 billion annually.

Let’s do something about this!

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at [email protected], or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.