June 2009 |
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Elderly are Victims of Bank Examiner ScamSARASOTA COUNTY, FL - Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is investigating a Bank Examiner scam.Twice recently two elderly females in the South Venice area were contacted by telephone by a male subject representing himself as a bank examiner. Both victims were instructed to meet a law enforcement officer at a designated location for instructions on how to assist in a bogus investigation to catch an embezzling teller. Both victims met with the subject who is described as a white male 50-60 years old, approximately 5'9"- 6' tall, average build and complexion. Each victim made withdrawals from their bank from their own accounts for over $5,000.00 and handed over the cash thinking they were assisting the bank and law enforcement. Citizens are reminded that banks and law enforcement would never use private citizens to conduct such an investigation. If you are ever contacted by a person representing themselves as a bank representative or law enforcement officer and that person requests your assistance in an investigation into bank or teller procedures let the caller know you have heard of this scam and immediately report the call to your bank and/or local law enforcement. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigations Bureau at 941-861-1719 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com or via text message by texting TIP109 plus a message to CRIMES (274637). San Diego Investor Sentenced to Prison for Swindling Elderly The 71-year-old former president of an investment firm that lured elderly investors with promises of a 10% monthly return was sentenced in San Diego today to five years and three months in prison for running a Ponzi scheme. Donald Manning, former president of the Brixon Group Ltd., also was ordered to make $4.3 million in restitution to more than 90 victims. As part of the scheme, investors were told their money was used to fund humanitarian projects around the world, according to documents presented in San Diego federal court. Manning's alleged co-conspirator, Joseph Wayne McCool, an ex-convict who had served two years in prison for fraud, is a fugitive, prosecutors said. Manning told investors that McCool was a banking expert who had run a large investment firm in Europe. -- Tony Perry AARP’s Bulletin AARP’s Bulletin is providing online coverage of the Astor trial almost daily. Click here for the site. It includes original coverage, New York Times stories, and links to related AARP material including an estate planning channel and Public Policy Institute reports |
Elderly Woman Takes on Would-be ScammerSALT LAKE COUNTY -- A would-be scammer decided to mess with the wrong elderly woman. Clara Whitson says she may be 83 years old, but she knows you don't get something for nothing. So when a heavily-accented man claiming to be a U.S. Customs agent in New Jersey called her April 4, she became suspicious. He asked her to go to the FedEx area of a nearby Wal-Mart, bring $250, and she would get more than $1 million.Whitson told the man she would call her bank, but she called the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office instead. The man called her back eight times after that. At one point Whitson even answered her phone with a phony accent, saying, "Tony's Pizza. You vant a pizza?" Whitson tells the Deseret News even after the police confronted the man on the phone, he called her back and said, "You think I'm a fraud." Whitson says she told him she knew he was a fraud, and said, "Shame on you!" Lt. Don Hutson of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office told the Deseret News, "She did exactly the right thing and did not provide any personal information and immediately contacted us so we could get it documented." E-mail: aadams@ksl.com Clark County Triad 911 Cell Phone Bank Project – Report – Coordinators: Terry and Joanne Harris Triad continues its Emergency Cell Phone Project seeking donations and encouraging people to request emergency phones for themselves. People planning a road trip should consider taking one of our emergency cell phones with them as trip safety insurance! Push this idea: Emergency 911 Cell Phones calls cannot be traced, so they are perfect tools for anonymous crime reporting! Bill Salyers, Pastor of Caring Ministries First Baptist Church of Springfield, Ohio Home 937-399-2279, Cell 934-206-8842 billsalyers@sbcglobal.net Seniors can apply for home safety checks FCN Staff Report, From May 2-9, Loveland Fire and Rescue will visit the homes of eligible senior citizens to conduct home safety checks and provide crime prevention and safety tips. Eligible senior citizens are individuals within Larimer County, 60 years old and older with limited mobility or without significant family and friends and on a limited income. Each recipient will receive a hand-made lap blanket, stuffed animal and crime prevention and safety material. To nominate someone who could benefit from this program, please send their name, address, phone number, a brief explanation of their situation and your contact information to: Elder Elves. P.O. Box 1044, Fort Collins, CO 80522. For more information, contact Katrina Sase, 307-761-0772 or katsase@gmail.com. |
| AARP’s TV show, Inside E Street Two new “channels” on AARP’s website share information and resources on elder abuse and, more specifically, power of attorney abuse. AARP’s TV show, Inside E Street, aired an episode last week called “License to Steal.” You can watch the show and find links to many resources by clicking here. The show focuses on addressing power of attorney abuse, using the Brooke Astor case as a graphic example and featuring research and law reform efforts. Guests include Lori Stiegel, author of the AARP Public Policy Institute report Power of Attorney Abuse: What States Can Do About It;Linda Whitton, law professor and Reporter for the Uniform Power of Attorney Act; Bob Blancato, Elder Justice Coalition; Congressman Joe Sestak; and Meryl Gordon, author of Mrs. Astor Regrets. Contractor Indicted for Bilking Elderly Sisters By Matt Gryta News Staff Reporter Joseph M. Ralston, a much-arrested owner of a local home-improvement company, was ordered by State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns today to remain jailed in lieu of $135,000 bail following his indictment for allegedly bilking two elderly Buffalo sisters out of more than $21,000 on unneeded work. Prosecutor Candace K. Vogel said Ralston, 43, faces a mandatory life term if convicted of convicted of charging 85-year-old Dorothy Pannulo and her 70-year-old sister, Carolyn Stevens, for unnecessary chimney work on their William Street home. Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said a grand jury charged Ralston with grand larceny, scheme to defraud, criminal mischief and violations of the Buffalo city code for unlicensed home-improvement work. Sedita and Vogel said Ralston also was charged by the grand jury with a violation of the city code by failing to get a permit for the repair work done of the sisters' two-story home. mgryta@buffnews.com Charges Filed Against Gypsy Who Allegedly Kidnapped, Robbed Elderly Long Beach Man By Tracy Manzer, Staff Writer LONG BEACH - Police and prosecutors announced Thursday that they filed a charge of kidnapping, robbery and felony elder abuse against a self-proclaimed gypsy who allegedly took an elderly Long Beach man at gunpoint and forced the victim to withdraw thousands of dollars from his banks last fall. Police began their investigation in October after the 86-year-old victim's family reported the crime, said Nancy Pratt, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman. The victim was standing in the front yard of his Long Beach home on Oct. 26, 2008 when the suspect pulled up in white, four-door sedan and lured the victim into his car, Pratt said. The suspect allegedly told the victim that the victim's grandson owed him money, then pulled out a gun. Fearing for his life and his family's safety, the victim withdrew several thousands of dollars from his bank account after being driven to two different Orange County bank branches, Pratt said. The 86-year-old was eventually able to escape and sought refuge at an Orange County restaurant, where he summoned a taxi to take him home, she said. During their investigation, Forgery Detectives Stacey Holdredge and Jesse Macias learned the same suspect had targeted elderly residents in Cypress and in Las Vegas, Nevada and were able to work investigators in those cities to identify the suspect and compile their case with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which was filed Tuesday. The suspect also has felony warrants for his arrest out of Washington, Oregon and Nevada. He was tracked to Las Vegas and arrested on April 8, where he is currently awaiting extradition, Pratt said. Based on their investigation, police suspect there are more victims in the region who have not reported their crimes, either out of a sense of embarrassment or fear, authorities said Thursday. Holdredge and Macias believe the suspect is a member of a transient criminal organization commonly known as "travelers or gypsies," Pratt said. While police declined to release the suspect's name Thursday, they noted he is a self proclaimed gypsy who has used multiple aliases and birth dates to cover his tracks. Police also withheld the victim's identity and the location of his home for his protection, Holdredge explained. A description of the suspect was released in the hope that any other possible victims may recognize his description, or the methods used in the October kidnapping, and will come forward, the detective said. The suspect is described as 49-year-old heavy-set male, with short brown hair and brown eyes, a goatee and a medium complexion. Anyone who believes they were a victim of the suspect, or a similar crime, is urged to contact Holdredge or Macias at 562-570-7330. tracy.manzer@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1261 |
Man Charged with Breaking into Homes, Stealing Medicine FRANCINE SAWYER Craven County Sheriff investigators have caught a New Bern man they say has been preying on the elderly and the handicapped, including those in Jacksonville. And they say they're looking for anyone else who may have been victimized by Jeremy Kent Williams, 26, of Frank Drive in New Bern. Williams faces several breaking and entering and larceny charges and drug charges, as well as charges for impersonating an officer manufacturing marijuana, and possession with intent to manufacture and sell marijuana. Investigators say Williams flashed a phony badge to get into homes in Craven and Jones counties and Jacksonville where he would then steal medication from the residence. Sgt. Kenny Wade and investigator Dan Garden of the Craven County Sheriff's Department said Williams scanned yards for handicap ramps, handicap scooters and walkers. They say he also watched for where elderly people lived. "He would knock at the door and ask if the certain person was there. He would show the badge. When the person said no one by that name was at the house, Williams would ask to go inside and take a look," Garden said. Investigators said that once Williams got inside the house, he would take drugs from the household medicine cabinet. Then, when no one was home, investigators say he would return, break in and steal items such as laptops, guns and jewelry. Deputies arrested Williams after a traffic stop and found stolen property, according to investigators. Garden said after finding pictures of marijuana plants on Williams' cell phone they searched his house and found marijuana. Williams is in jail under a bond of $160,000. Investigators are asking anyone who experienced similar circumstances to call them at 252-636-6648. To prevent being a victim of a similar ruse, Wade said that people should ask for credentials of law enforcement officers and call the department they say they represent to get verification. Advance fee schemes are incredibly challenging to fight, especially when the victim is caught up and already into it for thousands of dollars. I have used the Federal Trade Commission's site - especially the ID THEFT part, as it pertains well to these scams. Under consumer protection, there is also information there regarding alerting investors to the shady side of entertainment industry investment. Many other consumer protection categories are covered, in great detail. The 419 scheme has been used to target film/screen writers, as well. I found reference to this at www.419scam.org. About.com did a blurb about how to spot a scams targeting fiction writers. The ideas can pertain to other arts, as well, particularly for those areas that suggest checking credentials. I have the link here. I think the goal at first may be to help the victim do some cursory checks on the "patron". Blotter: Report: Man Arrested After Bank Employees Call Police By Candace Carlisle / Staff Writer A 39-year-old man allegedly attempted to empty an 84-year-old woman’s bank account Friday afternoon at a bank on West Mulberry Street, according to a police report. But an alert bank teller and branch manager notified police, leading to the man’s arrest, said Denton police Detective Brandon Hobon. “Had the bank not called us, we would’ve never known anything was going on and she probably would’ve given another $3,800 dollars to him,” Hobon said. The man claimed to work for Alcoa Inc. and said he needed to replace her water heater’s filter in August, according to the report. The suspect returned six times for various repairs, in some cases working on the same problem twice, charging a total of almost $12,000, according to the report. When the elderly woman became suspicious, the suspect offered to investigate the matter for $5,500 and she complied, according to the report. An unknown man and the suspect drove the woman to the bank to withdraw the money, according to the report. The woman’s account had a balance of $3,800, which the suspect agreed to settle on for his investigative work, according to the report. The bank teller and branch manager tried to talk to the woman alone, but the man kept interrupting and trying to hurry the transaction along, according to the report. Police officers responded to a call from the bank, questioned the man, and arrested him on charges of theft against the elderly and giving false identification, the report stated. The man was taken to jail and further investigation revealed that the he was wanted on outstanding warrants from other states, Hobon said. Hobon said he commended the bank for its vigilance. He said residents who live alone or are vulnerable tend to be prime targets and everyone should be wary of individuals who stop by for unsolicited work. The 84-year-old woman likely won’t be able to recover the initial payment of almost $12,000 because there is no proof the man received the money, Hobon said. “The only way to stop these crimes is to educate the public,” he said. CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com. |
| Silver Alert Measure Signed into Law by Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry System will also apply to people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia BY MICHAEL MCNUTT A statewide system to alert authorities if a senior citizen or a person with dementia is missing will be in place later this year. Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation Thursday that establishes a Silver Alert program to help families locate elderly loved ones who are reported missing. An additional provision of House Bill 2030 also allows the Silver Alert to be activated after the disappearance of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or similar health issues, said House Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, House author of the measure. Henry said the law directs the state Public Safety Department to work with broadcasters and agencies to establish a system patterned on the Amber Alerts that help find missing children. "By working to quickly locate lost seniors with the help of Silver Alert, we can help prevent injuries and save lives,” Henry said. The law takes effect Nov. 1. The idea of a Silver Alert came from a small group of volunteers in Shawnee, said Nancy Cassel , a past president of the Silver-Haired Legislature, an advocacy group for seniors. The volunteers turned the plan over to the Silver-Haired Legislature, who in turn pressed lawmakers. Cassel, of El Reno, said a Silver Alert would have helped in finding her uncle when he left a nursing home in his pajamas one night in 1963. He was found frozen several days later in a field. "This could have been anyone’s uncle or anyone’s dad,” she said. "I hope we never have to face that again in the future.” The Silver Alert, just as the Amber Alert does, will use television, radio and other forms of communication to alert the public of a missing senior and seek information to help locate the person. Senior Citizen Scams Posted by: Alan Wagmeister Greensboro, NC -- Seniors are a great resource for our communities but they are also big targets for con-artists. 2 Wants to Know's Tanya Rivera Gets Answers on the scams targeting the elderly. A day doesn't go by that we get contacted about a scam. Now the Attorney General breaks down those rip offs into several categories including:
Now we know you may have heard this but it's worth repeating, many of these scams have several things in common. First, never pay money "up front" for anything to collect a prize, get a loan or get services. It's illegal. Guard your personal information. Don't give out your social security number or credit card information. Avoid any get rich quick scams. If something sounds too good to be true, it is. Finally be wary of people selling anything door-to-door like contractors. You can read the details on over 60 scams and how they work by clicking here. |
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More Senior Safety related articles are located at www.nationaltriad.org; e-news section. |