Could you use $3,000 in food savings certificates and a free medical alert bracelet? That’s what I was offered last week just when I was making out my grocery list – and as it sounded too good to be true, I hung up the phone and went immediately to check out the latest senior-citizen scams. This can be a time-consuming project.

All over the country, this newest scam is being successful. Don’t fall for it. From Vermont to Virginia, it is working. One Better Business Bureau (Virginia) reports that in the original scam, seniors received robo-calls from scammers posing as representatives of a medical alert monitoring company.

Now, the calls are offering seniors $3,000 in “food savings certificates” along with a free medical alert bracelet.

If you get one of these calls, you will hear this message:

“For those 60 years old or older. You now qualify under the new National Senior Assistance Program to receive $3,000 in free groceries savings certificates. They can be used at over a hundred major grocery chains across the U.S. In addition to your $3,000 in savings certificate you’ll receive a free emergency medical alert bracelet or necklace. This medical alert device is designed to save your life if you ever experience a fall or any other emergencies.”

What to do? Hang up. The so-called “National Senior Assistance Program” does not appear to be a real organization.

The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to avoid becoming a victim of a what is referred to as a phishing scam:

• Do not provide your bank account information, Medicare number, Social Security number or any other personal information to unknown individuals over the phone.

• Check out the company’s Better Business Bureau Business Review at http://www.bbb.org to see its BBB rating, complaint history and more.

I’ll bet I’m not alone in getting this type of call. I swear, someone somewhere in that vast world called the Internet has figured out a way to get information so they know exactly who is over 65 and who to call for this terrific grocery shopping bonanza of a multi-thousand dollar certificate. But be smart and don’t fall for it.

That offer and robo-call goes right alongside the woman who calls and offers a reduced credit card rate – not that I have a credit card, but it sure sounds good.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.