Mean joke

“Miracle comforter” should cure dementia in a senior citizen

There is probably no such thing as a "miracle comforter" for 3000 euros.(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

If it didn't make you cry, it would make you smile. An almost admirably brazen salesman offered a very elderly couple a bedspread that could cure their husband's dementia. The duped couple signed a purchase contract for 3000 euros. Now the AK helped them.

 While the salesman was talking to the elderly couple - both over 90 years old - he unpacked the blanket and spread it out on the couch. Mr. and Mrs. A. were so taken by surprise that they signed a purchase contract for the blanket at a price of 3000 euros. The son of the two cruelly duped senior citizens, on the other hand, could not warm to the purchase of the expensive "miracle blanket" and turned to the consumer protection department of the AK Upper Austria.

Withdrawal from the contract with a sample letter
After receiving advice from the AK experts, the son declared his withdrawal from the contract for his parents with the help of the AK sample letter and sent the blanket back to the company. The company did not respond to the letter of withdrawal. However, as no payments had yet been made, this was no big deal for the senior citizens. In the event that the company had not accepted the rescission and sued for the sum, AK would have stood by them in court.

"We exhaust all legal means against such companies to help those affected," says AK President Andreas Stangl.

Further information is available at ooe.arbeiterkammer.at/konsumentenschutz

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Die alten Schmähs gibt’s auch noch

Whether it's a nephew scam, bail scam or some other nasty trick, it's not just older people who are increasingly wondering whether they should even answer a call with a foreign or even suppressed number on the phone. Not to mention the various criminal attacks via email or WhatsApp.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV, Alexander Schwarzl, Markus Wenzel)

Analog rather than digital scams are almost appealing. Because yes, the dreaded doorstep scammers who try to sell you something at the front door still exist.

Worst of all, however, are the political scoundrels who unabashedly advertise themselves as saviors of the world. It gets tedious in an election year.