Triad Members: It has been our intent to hold a National Triad Conference in 2010. Unfortunately, due to a changeover in Directorships at the state level, specifically, in the chosen state to host the 2010 NATI Conference, we will be unable to hold or reschedule our 2010 conference at this time. We hope you will consider joining us in the Chicago area for the 2011 NATI Conference instead. Sincere regards, the National Association of Triads, Inc. staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council
City groups stepping up numbering of houses By Kendra Noyes Staff Writer
Sun Sep 19, 2010, 10:48 PM EDT The Gloucester group that, in the past, has advanced a variety of public safety projects for senior citizens — in collaboration with Fire Chief Phil Dench and the youth group of the Cape Ann YMCA — is now working on a program aimed at making sure the identifying address numbers on houses are clearly visible for emergency responders. The TRIAD Council, a group headed by Peter Jenner that works closely with the Rose Baker Senior Center and with Gloucester police, is at the center of an effort to assist both residents and emergency responders. Mayor Carolyn Kirk said the project is designed to improve the safety of all residents. "This important public safety program has been an ongoing issue," Kirk said, "and we are delighted that Peter Jenner and the TRIAD Council have taken the initiative to once again bring this to the public's attention. "I urge all residents to take advantage of the TRIAD Council's offer to assist in affixing numbers on their homes," Kirk said. The Building Center has "generously agreed" to supply the house numbers at no cost, said Jenner. Members from a youth group of the YMCA will also be available to install the numbers on the homes of senior citizens who need assistance, said Jenner. The emphasis on numbering is so that in the case of an emergency, public safety officials can find the residence in question. State law requires that residents have numbers on their houses that are visible from the street. While most Gloucester homes comply, many do not. Plus, Gloucester already poses a number of emergency response issues, with street patterns, for example, that include an Atlantic Avenue, an Atlantic Road and an Atlantic Street — which sit a few miles apart, and on opposite sides of the Annisquam River. Anyone seeking more information on the project may contact the TRIAD Council through at the Rose Baker Senior Center at 978-281-9765. Kendra Noyes can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
Stealing from grandpa and grandma
by Bob Sullivan Authorities are investigating potential theft of heiress Huguette Clark's fortune in her old age by trusted advisors, but elder financial abuse can happen to anyone. His dad is rich, and dying. He's facing huge credit card bills and unemployment. His inheritance is just sitting there. And sitting in the desk drawer is a power of attorney document Dad signed for him years ago, giving him the right to do anything he wants with the father's money. The temptation is too powerful, and the crime is too easy, to stop. The story plays out thousands — perhaps hundreds of thousands of times — every year across the country, a scourge of old age. America's vulnerable, graying population, and the concentration of wealth among older adults, has created a massive opportunity for fraud. Hard statistics are not available, but experts suspect that perhaps half a million elderly adults are ripped off by family members, lawyers and accountants every year, potentially taking $2.6 billion from infirm older Americans. The crime is known as elder financial abuse. Financial expert and consumer advocate John Wasik has called it "the crime of the 21st century." "This is something that's rarely explored because the victims are rarely in a position to report the abuse," said Wasik, author of 13 books on personal finance issues. This story will discuss the warning signs of elder theft and offer tips on what to do if you suspect a family member or friend is suffering financial abuse. The tool used by the criminals who steal from the elderly is a legal document called a "power of attorney," which enables a designated adult to make financial decisions on behalf of another. Because power of attorney decisions are rarely reviewed, the document has been called a "license to steal." In legal circles, the crime is called "power of attorney abuse." High-profile cases of elder financial abuse have helped shine a light on this age-old problem. In 2009, Brooke Astor's son and attorney were convicted of stealing $10 million from the socialite's $100 million fortune. But Astor's estate is dwarfed by that of 104-year-old Huguette Clark, a reclusive heiress worth half a billion dollars who's been the subject of several msnbc.com stories by my colleague Bill Dedman <http://Clark.msnbc.com> . He's discovered suspicious transactions involving priceless paintings, musical instruments and a New York City apartment, and his reporting has led to a criminal investigation headed by the Manhattan district attorney's office. Thanks to inquiries from more than 100 msnbc.com readers, the New York office of Adult Protective Services is looking into the case. Many writers were prompted by their own personal encounters with elder theft. That's the first and most important tip, experts say: Get involved. Report the crime. Many criminals get away with siphoning off cash because other relatives have detached from the older adult's life, assuming someone else is doing their job and taking care of end-of-life details. "Keeping involved, active and in touch with the older person, staying aware of how they are doing and asking a lot of questions, that's very important for prevention and early intervention," said Sharon Merriman-Nai, co-manager of the National Center on Elder Abuse. "It can take next to no time for someone's assets to be depleted, so the quicker you can act, the better." That means calling your state's Adult Protective Services officer, as msnbc.com readers did in response to Clark's story. You can find a state-by-state list here <http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/ncearoot/Main_Site/Find_Help/State_Resources.aspx> . One serious challenge for family members who want to step in and help out: Frequently, local police will interpret elder theft as a civil, rather than a criminal, matter. That's why it's important to report suspicions to the Adult Protective Services office, which knows how to handle such incidents. Reporting the crime is also critical because financial abuse is often accompanied by other forms of abuse, Merriman-Nai said. "Physical abuse may be present, too. And if there's financial abuse, there's almost certainly some kind of psychological abuse going on," she said. "Quite often, they are being physically intimidated." In extreme cases, victims won't be able to afford the health care they need because their funds are depleted. Calling to accuse a relative or a formerly trusted advisor is a big step, however, and one many family members are reluctant to make. It's also possible, Merriman-Nai said, that disputes or rivalries might cause one family member to misinterpret the actions of another. So it's important to ask questions and, if possible, obtain paperwork detailing alleged abuse, such as bank statements. Wasik said: "You really kind of need to have something in hand to show this stuff is going on. It's not easy to prove without documents." Garage sales hide theft
But elder financial abuse, particularly when committed by professional financial advisers, can be hard to spot and even harder to prove, said Jerry Walker, a Seattle-based lawyer who specializes in estate planning. "There's all sorts of ways to liquidate items and have no record of it," Walker said. "I've seen big garage sales, for example, where a lot of property is sold and there are no receipts ... or they form a company and funnel money to the company. They can change beneficiaries or even hire relatives to do easy jobs. There's lots of crazy ways to get money out of an estate." Elder financial abuse can be brutal and obvious, as in the Astor case. Or it can be much more subtle, Wasik said. In many cases, the issue is greed brought on by a sense of entitlement. "Some cases are really egregious, such as a wayward son or daughter who comes into the picture and cleans out the accounts. But there are any number of scenarios," he said. "Other times, there are children who know the money is there, and the temptation for some is too great. A lot of people who lost their homes or are going to lose their homes have no financial assets at all. They are technically impoverished, but they see Mom and Dad sitting on a nest egg and they say, 'Hey, they're going to give it to me anyway, so why not use the money now?' " Some cases are even more sinister, Merriman-Nai said. "It's called 'undue influence,' and it's far more sophisticated, a very well-plotted-out, strategy to separate older individuals from their assets," she said. "It begins with someone gaining the trust of an elderly person, then separating them from their support network, isolating them from other people. Then they are able to exert tremendous influence on the elderly person." That influence can extend all the way to bank teller windows. Elder financial thieves can have such hypnotic power over their victims that they transport the elderly person to the bank and stand nearby while he or she withdraws thousands of dollars in cash — and then hands the money over. Most cases aren't reported
In fact, a report by MetLife Mature Market published in 2009 found that bank teller training is among the more effective ways to spot and stop elder abuse. In a test, tellers correctly identified suspicious transactions 7 out of 10 times, the report said. "All by themselves, alert and well-trained bank tellers could have significant impact on financial abuse, especially if their numbers were to grow," the report found. By extrapolating from newspaper accounts of elder abuse, the report's writers estimated that $2.6 billion is stolen from older Americans every year and that only 1 in 14 cases are reported. There is no national accounting of abuse cases, said Merriman-Nai, and that has blunted efforts to draw attention to the problem. But a paper published by AARP in 2008 <http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/consume/2008_17_poa.pdf> (PDF) found that Adult Protective Services agents around the country report an "explosion of financial exploitation cases," particularly those involving power of attorney abuse. The AARP report concludes that there are three main reasons that power of attorney abuse is so rampant: Receivers of the power, sometimes called the "attorney in fact," have exceeding broad powers. There is a nearly complete lack of monitoring of the attorney in fact. And there are unclear standards for dealing with those who abuse the power. But perhaps most discouraging is this conclusion from the report: Power of attorney "abuse may not be detectable until the principal has died." One bright spot for those concerned about elder abuse: Tucked into the omnibus health care bill Congress passed earlier this year was the Elder Justice Act, which set aside nearly $800 million to expand efforts to investigate elder financial theft during the next four years. Advocates had been attempting to get the funding from Congress in the form of the Elder Justice Act for years. Still, the fast-growing elderly population has Merriman-Nai concerned about the future. "The problem is probably going to get worse before it gets better, the way the population is aging," she said. "But one hope we have is that the Baby Boomers are a generation of activists, and they will not go quietly. If we have an opportunity to put this issue on the map, it's now. The resources this generation can bring to resolve these problems can have quite an impact." IF YOU SUSPECT ABUSE
As financial abuse can take many forms, it can leave many hints. The clearest: If an elderly friend or family member is not getting the medical treatment you think he or she should be able to afford. Withdrawal or depression are also warning signs, Merriman-Nai said. If the older person is suddenly reluctant to talk about finances, that could also be a sign. But even a gradual withdrawal from normal conversations might be a hint that something is wrong — or that someone is trying to isolate the person from people who might spot the crime. Unexpected dramatic financial transactions, such as a surprising sale of property or a large cash transaction, should also raise red flags. HOW TO PREVENT ABUSE
One key to prevention is to stay involved in the elderly person's life well before there is a need to invoke a power of attorney. Maintaining a good relationship — including frank discussions of financial matters — will create a bond of trust that could be all the difference later in life when questions arise about finances. Also, it's critical to make plans early on, when the elderly person is capable of being fully involved in the decision-making process. "It's when you aren't taking the bull by the horns that things get out of control," Wasik said. In many cases, the seeds for abuse are sown when an older person — trying to do the right thing, and preparing for the inevitable — signs what's called a "springing" power of attorney. Such a document takes force only when some trigger is reached, such as confirmation from a doctor that the individual is incapable of making his or her own financial decisions. The power of attorney might not spring into force for five or 10 years. Circumstances, as well as trust levels, can change a lot during that stretch of time. While it makes sense to give a family member that kind of power over your finances, many older adults trust their accountants or lawyers more than their children. But in either case, Walker recommends not giving too much power to one person. "You can split power of attorney up among two or three people, so they have to agree on decisions," he said. "That can provide some checks and balances. Of course, they might disagree, and you have to have a method for resolving deadlocks." Wasik recommends something similar — give one family member the power of attorney, but require that person to provide regular reports to a council of other family members where financial decisions must be justified. Walker strongly recommends against picking an attorney or accountant to receive the power of attorney. "They are the ones that know how to play the game and work the rules," he said. Ultimately, Walker said he wished that attorneys and accountants who exercised power of attorney were responsible to some higher authority, such as a social agency, in order to provide checks and balances. "If you are an attorney, you are not accountable to anyone," he said. "The only way I can see it working is if you have to prepare an accounting and justify it to someone." A court-appointed conservatorship is a more expensive option, but it does provide a facility for court review and other safeguards. Finally, if you suspect elder financial abuse but aren't sure, or you are reluctant to involve law enforcement, Merriman-Nai recommends contacting an elder law attorney. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is one place to look for such a specialist.
E-Mail Tracker Programs By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.com and/or truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.
Advice from snopes.com VERY IMPORTANT!!
1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you feel if that was your child" --- email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate!
2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes.
You can do your Friends and Family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them. You will be providing a service to your friends. And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future! Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listing regardless how inviting they might sound! Or make you feel guilty if you don't! It's all about getting email addresses and nothing more.
You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT!
Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's not make it easy for them!
ALSO: Email petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress of any other organization - i.e. social security, etc. To be acceptable, petitions must have a "signed signature" and full address of the person signing the petition, so this is a waste of time and you are just helping the email trackers.
Tips for Handling Telemarketers Three Little Words That Work!! (1)The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...' Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task. These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.. (2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call, and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!! (3) Junk Mail Help:
When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 44 cents postage, 'IF' and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. One of Andy Rooney 's (60 minutes) ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back!
If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just keep them guessing! It still costs them 44 cents. The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea! If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.
New victims of old scams that target elderly By KATIE ANDERSON ELGIN -- Two senior citizens in Elgin fell victim last month to scam artists who cost them more than $17,000 combined. The elderly women, both in their 80s, were victimized by the most commonly reported form of elder abuse: financial exploitation. Tips to avoid scams To protect against scams, the Better Business Bureau recommends: • Never wire money to someone you don't know. Never send money to receive any winnings from a lottery or sweepstakes. Be suspicious of winning from something you never bought a ticket for or entered. - Remember that no one from Medicare will ever call to ask for sensitive personal financial information.
- If you are uncertain about owing a debt when collectors call, ask for written confirmation.
- Beware of investment or money-making offers that seem too good to be true or use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to sign up immediately.
For more detailed information on the scams, visit bbb.org. The first scam, known as the "pigeon drop," occurred on Aug. 5 outside of the Meijer grocery store on Randall Road, said Elgin Police Crime Prevention Specialist Cherie Aschenbrenner. The 80-year-old was approached by two women who asked the victim if she wanted to split the contents of a "lost" pouch that contained $100,000, Aschenbrenner said. The victim was asked to first put up $12,000 "good faith" money. She was instructed by the scammers to tell her bank, if questioned about the withdrawal, that the money was for a family member, Aschenbrenner said. The victim retrieved the cash, and the scammers took the money, saying they would show it to a lawyer and then return with the victim's "share" of the $100,000. The scammers never returned. The senior called Aschenbrenner later that evening but had to be coaxed into filing a police report. The second senior victim was conned into wiring money to help a family member who was supposedly in jail overseas. The con artists pretended to be police from another country when they called the 81-year-old and asked her to send bail money. Both scams were reported in August, but Aschenbrenner fears there were probably more. Most senior victims never report they were scammed because of a fear of looking dumb, Aschenbrenner said. "They say, 'I don't want my name in the paper, I don't want a squad car at my house, I don't want my kids to know ..." Aschenbrenner said. "They don't want to have to go to court to testify, and they fear retaliation," she said. "Total all that up, and that's why the seniors are the perfect target." Aschenbrenner hopes that by encouraging seniors to report cons, she can cut down on area scams. The Illinois Department on Aging reports that more than 6,000 senior citizens last year reported being financially exploited. In addition, a June survey by Investor Protection Trust reported that more than 7.3 million seniors -- roughly 20 percent of Americans age 65 or older -- have "been taken advantage of financially in terms of an inappropriate investment, unreasonably high fees for financial services, or outright fraud." To combat this trend, Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois, recommends having conversations with elderly people about the issue. "It's extremely important to keep the lines of communication open so that you can identify suspicious spending habits, as well as educate your elder family members on recognizing the red flags of common scams," Bernas said in a recent statement to the media. The Better Business Bureau released a list last week of the five most reported scams targeting seniors. They include sweepstakes and lottery scams, which Aschenbrenner said are popular in the Elgin area; Medicare scams, bereavement scams, deceptive professional scams and work-at-home cons.
Salem County Sheriff Chuck Miller honored as 2010 New Jersey TRIAD Person of Year Phil Dunn / Today's Sunbeam WOODSTOWN — Surrounded by more than 150 friends, family members, colleagues and other dignitaries, Salem County Sheriff Chuck Miller was honored as 2010 New Jersey State TRIAD Association Person of the Year here. Although the event was marked with laughs dished out by local attorney Frank Hoerst, it did at moments turn emotional and served as a time of reflection for Miller and his family. The New Jersey TRIAD Association honored Miller Friday night at The Rushes Restaurant for his multitude of services to the organization and for being a friend and resource to the senior citizen community in Salem County. “Chuck has been there for us every step of the way, he has supported us by coming out to the meetings and talking with the seniors,” said Ralph Law, board secretary for the Salem County TRIAD Association. “They know him and it’s important to build a positive relationship with the senior community.” New Jersey TRIAD is a non-profit association of law enforcement, senior service agencies, and community service specialists whose duties and responsibilities include assessing and addressing the safety concerns of senior citizens in their respective communities. The organization strives to reduce crimes against the elderly in New Jersey through a state-wide network of community based crime prevention programs, advocacy, awareness building and training. “We honor the Person of the Year with them knowing it’s some big shoes to fill, but we know our decision was the correct one because it’s an asset to have someone with Chuck’s courage in the position of leadership,” said President of the New Jersey TRIAD Officers Association Executive Board, Captain Thomas Fatigante. With membership in the Salem County chapter of TRIAD now over 300, Law said Miller was the catalyst in bringing the seniors together. At regular meetings senior are educated about topics such as identity theft and Internet scams, which often target the elderly community. “If you stop crime it benefits all of us,” said Law. The keynote speaker for the event was U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist. He spoke of Miller’s passion, his driving force to keep Salem County a safe place to live. LoBiondo talked about the turmoil facing the State of New Jersey right now. He said often times people lose trust and begin to develop a poor impression of elected officials. But he said hard work breeds success and every once in awhile someone comes along to restore the faith and trust of the average citizens in an office holder. Miller is that individual, LoBiondo said. Serving as a congressman, LoBiondo said he often observes the difference between those who are in office for show and those who are there to work hard. “Well, Chuck is the work horse. Chuck is the guy who gets up in the morning who understand what his responsibilities are and then sets that bar even higher,” he said. In the welcoming address, Freeholder Deputy Director David Lindemuth echoed LoBiondo’s comments. “For Chuck its not about the D or R, rich or poor, or what is newsworthy, he cares about doing what is right for the people of Salem County,” Lindenmuth said. After a number of speakers and well-wishers presented Miller with certificates of appreciation, it was his chance to speak. Miller spoke of his involvement in TRIAD and S.A.L.T. (Seniors and law Enforcement Together) and the many inspirations he has had in his life. He thanked his family, his colleagues and his friends. “There are many of you here this evening that have touched my life and supported me throughout my career,” said Miller. “Know this you have inspired me in the course of my career and I thank you for all you have done to help me, but more importantly I thank you for being a friend and helping to shape my life.”
Banks required to keep eye out for scammers New law makes banks, others mandated reporters of suspected elder financial abuse In fiscal 2009, the state received more than 6,200 reports of suspected elder financial abuse and exploitation, according to Gov. Pat Quinn's office. Out of those cases, only 3 percent were reported by banks and other financial institutions. A bill signed into law last month aims to change that trend. Senate Bill 3267, signed into law on July 17 by Gov. Quinn, amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. It requires the Illinois Department on Aging and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to develop training standards to be used by banks and other financial institutions who have direct contact with customers. A bill signed into law last month aims to change that trend. Senate Bill 3267, signed into law on July 17 by Gov. Quinn, amends the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. It requires the Illinois Department on Aging and Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to develop training standards to be used by banks and other financial institutions who have direct contact with customers. The change, in part, makes "any bank, savings and loan, or credit union officer, trustee, or employee and any ambulatory currency exchange or community currency exchange" a mandated reporter. The change, in part, makes "any bank, savings and loan, or credit union officer, trustee, or employee and any ambulatory currency exchange or community currency exchange" a mandated reporter. This means, for example, bank tellers or currency exchange employees who suspect an elderly customer is being cheated or exploited must report the suspicion to police or other authorities. The new law took effect July 19.
Law Enforcement Resources for Identity Theft US Department of Justice
Request a free copy of the "Stop Identity Theft Now" Educational video by calling 888-228-0315. For more information: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/idtheft_crooks/idtheft_crooks.htm US Secret Service Field Offices
www.usss.treas.gov/field_offices.shtml Electronic Crimes Task Force: Locate a task force at
www.ectaskforce.org/regional_locations.htm US Postal Inspection Service: Locate your nearest Postal Inspection Service and contact.
www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ E-Information Network
www.einformation.usss.gov - Access a unique collection of resource databases that help financial institutions and law enforcement obtain information on a variety of topics. IDSafety Resources
http://www.idsafety.org/enforcement/resources/ International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators
www.iafci.org The Identity Theft Assistance Center (ITAC) is a cooperative private sector initiative that provides a free victim assistance service for customers of its member companies, and shares data with the FTC and other law enforcement agencies
www.identitytheftassistance.org Black Book Online
www.blackbookonline.info - Access different search engines Thomas Legislative Information on the Internet
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Scammers prey on elderly
BY JENNIFER H. CUNNINGHAM The Record STAFF WRITER Experts have seen all sorts of scams, from the e-mail announcing a big lottery win and what you need to do to claim the money – usually, send money — to the repairman who knocks on the door requiring payment upfront for urgent work, then skips town. But the attempt to scam an elderly Little Falls couple reached a new height in audacity, experts say. The con artists wanted the couple to wire money to Canada to bail out their grandson, who supposedly was being held on drug charges. In fact, he was at home. Across North Jersey, criminals are using increasingly cunning means to attempt to scam elderly residents, and senior advocates and police say seniors and their caregivers must be on their guard. "They're looking for connections," Diane Baillif, administrative supervisor of social work for Bergen County Adult Protective Services, said about some of the vulnerable elderly. "They [the criminals] sound honest. [Victims] often believe that these people are their friends, and they can't believe that their friends would have ulterior motives." Con artists may specifically target senior citizens for fraud because many seniors were raised to be trusting, said Mary Kuzinski, director of Passaic County's Department of Senior Services. Once they realize they've been scammed, many elderly tell no one out of shame or fear they'll look as if they can't care for themselves, she added. More than 7.3 million Americans above age 65 — one out of five — have been victimized by fraud, according to a June study from the Investor Protection Trust, a non-profit investor education organization. Although the Federal Trade Commission doesn't keep data on elder fraud, the most common type of fraud reported to the commission is identity theft, and 33,914, or 13 percent, of those cases last year involved a victim over 60, up from 11 percent in 2007. Frightening call A Little Falls woman, who asked not to be identified, said she and her husband received a call two weeks ago from a man who identified himself as "Montreal Police Officer Reilly," who said police had their grandson in custody after finding drugs in his car. They were required to wire about $3,000 to bail him out, the officer said. Then a voice came on the line – their grandson? — crying and pleading with her to send the money but to be sure not to tell his parents. "I knew it wasn't my grandson immediately," said the woman. Her husband wasn't so sure; he went to the bank to withdraw the money. The woman asked the caller to name her grandson's dog. Just then, the caller got back on the line and told them that her grandson would never get out of jail unless they sent the money. "I called his father," the woman said. "I asked, 'Where is my grandson?' He said, 'Upstairs. Why?'" "It's frightening that they think they can do this," she said. Acting state Consumer Affairs Director Sharon Joyce said in a statement that the scam involving the purported grandson was fairly new, but that con artists can obtain names of grandchildren through social networking sites, blogs or genealogy Web sites. A big problem in investigating such scams is that they're often committed by con artists outside the United States, where local police departments lack jurisdiction, said Teaneck police Detective Lt. Glenn O'Reilly. Since the economic downturn, more cases of elder fraud involve members of the victim's own family, neighbors and so-called friends, said Baillif. "These are isolated and lonely elders, and it's often the people that they count on to do things for them that do this to them," she said. Kuzinski said teaching seniors about the dangers scam artists pose is key. "We educate them on some of the warning signs," she said. "When you hear buzz words like 'act now,' or 'the offer is for a limited time' — or any attempt to complete a transaction in a hurry — we give them certain safeguards." Thefts of valuables In Paterson, a common scam involves tricksters who claim they're from the water or electric company who try to persuade seniors to let them into their homes. Inside, they take their valuables, said Detective Lt. Ronald Humphrey. He cited the recent case of a man claiming to be from a utility who conned his way into an elderly woman's house. The woman got suspicious and told the man to leave. He did, but not before slyly stealing her jewelry. Humphrey said seniors should make sure to schedule appointments with utilities and not open the door if they doubt the caller's claim. "Just cross-check anything they say before you let them in your house," he said. In Little Ferry, con artists have targeted the elderly through lotto scams and door-to-door fraud, said Police Chief Ralph C. Verdi. Verdi said detectives make several trips a year to the borough's senior center to let residents know about tricks criminals are using. He said seniors who are unsure about a solicitation should call the department. It's easier to verify a charity, lottery or business than to try to recover money once it's gone. "I'd rather send a patrol car to check, rather than see somebody get ripped off," he said. Clifton's seniors have been besieged by various types of fraud, including the grandchild-in-custody scam, the phony utility worker and the lotto scam, said Detective Capt. Robert Rowan. Con artists operating the lotto scam from Spain persuaded a city couple in their 80s to hand over their life's savings. "They lost a fortune," Rowan said, "and they never got a dime." Rowan called on seniors to tell someone they trust before they part with cash. "Elderly people should check with their children or their local police department before sending money, no matter how convincing these people sound," he said. E-mail: cunningham@northjersey.com
NA gets Triad program
BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, standing, looks on as Pam Hunt, council on aging director, signs pact. NORTH ATTLEBORO - Programs to address the safety concerns of local senior citizens will be strengthened in town with a new partnership between law enforcement agencies and the council on aging. The police department, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and the council on aging signed an agreement Wednesday to launch a Triad program in the community. Triad is a partnership between the agencies that will work on creating programs to help senior citizens feel safer and more secure in their neighborhoods and homes. "This is a big day for North Attleboro. Since I started working here 6 1/2 years ago, I've been trying to generate interest in bringing Triad to North Attleboro," council on aging Director Pam Hunt said. Triad is a national program that began in 1988 with a partnership between the National Sheriff's Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the AARP. The program was launched in Bristol County 10 years later in Easton. North Attleboro is the 11th community in Bristol County to participate. "There are a lot of things out there where seniors are being threatened. They are out there trying to steal your money, trying to steal your identity and trying to confuse you," Hodgson said to a group of about 30 seniors who attended the signing ceremony. "It's important to have someone you feel comfortable talking to about your safety concerns. This is about keeping our seniors safe and improving their quality of life," he said. Triad has a number of initiatives, including the "Are You Okay" program that calls seniors who live alone each day to make well-being checks and social events designed to acquaint senior citizens with local police officers. Hodgson said one of the first initiatives in North Attleboro will offer reflective house number signs. A survey will be distributed to senior citizens to help determine what other programs and services should be implemented locally. Officer Kristine Krishtal, who serves as the police department's senior citizen liaison, said the department is proud to be part of the Triad program. "We've been trying to bridge the gap with what senior citizens want from the police department," Krishtal said. "I'd like senior citizens to be able to approach me and feel comfortable talking about any concerns they have." State Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said residents are lucky the Triad program has been launched in North Attleboro. "All of the programs with Triad are so very important to the safety and well-being of our senior citizens. I'm thrilled to pieces this program will be in North Attleboro."
I received an e-mail from notice@webmail.com <mailto:notice@webmail.com> regarding an account closure and requesting the following information. Of course, it is completely fraudulent, but wanted to give the ‘heads up’ about it. Note that there is no real signature, contains spelling and grammatical errors, and has no letterhead. The message is listed below: -- Due our latest IP Security upgrades we have reason to believe that your webmail account was accessed by a third party. Because protecting the security of your webmail account is our primary concern, we have limited access to sensitive webmail account features. We understand that this may be an inconvenience but please understand that this temporary limitation is for your protection. How can I restore my account access ? You must reply to this e-mail providing us your the Below information: E-mail : .. . .. . ... ...... ... .. . ... ...... ... .. Username/ID : ... . ... ...... ... .. Current Password : . ... ...... ... .. Retype Password: . ... ...... ... .. From this point you will be unable to receive new email as it will be returned to the sender, Provide the above information to enable us help reset your webmail immediately. Your Webmail Account Expire in Two (2) Days. After you read this message, it is best to REPLY with the required information to upgrade Mail Box. Thank you for your cooperation. Webmail Help Desk
Randolph Police start program to help elderly
Randolph Police Sergeant Richard Hughes addresses attendees at the first Senior Outreach meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 25.
By Teresa A. Franco
Randolph Herald As a Senior Outreach worker in town, seniors often complain to Brenda Mangolis about phone scams. This is only one concern seniors face in today’s world, so the Randolph Police Department is starting up a program to prevent seniors from those incidents. Mangolis was one of a handful of senior citizen representatives to attend the Police Department’s first Senior Outreach Program meeting Aug. 25 at town hall. Police Chief William Pace, Police Sergeant Richard Hughes (the group’s administrator), Detective Melissa McCormick, Police Officer Kristen Emberley and Police Chaplin Leland Clarke fielded questions and collected ideas from the small crowd. “We are concerned about crimes against the elderly,” Pace said. “We want to get input from people in town. We want to see what programs you want.” Hughes spoke of several programs the department is forming to protect senior citizens. One such program is called Tracking All Grandparents and Special Needs (TAGS). Through the program, elderly citizens with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are given ID bracelets with their information. So, Hughes said, individuals found disoriented and wandering in the streets will be able to be identified. The department also is planning to update its database of seniors, Hughes said. Leaders also will form the Triad program among the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, local safety officials and senior citizens. Many of the attendees offered some suggestions. A few suggested the police department hold workshops about how seniors should respond to suspicious calls. For the Outreach Program to work, Hughes stressed the importance of getting feedback from the community for it to work properly. “We’re all working for the same goal, but no one can do it by themselves,” he said. A couple of those in attendance said they walked away from the meeting feeling positive. Mangolis said she felt confident that the outreach program would be effective. “I think this is going to be a wonderful thing to help our seniors,” she said. “It’s something we really need.” Mangolis said she has often sought assistance from police in the past for issues with seniors in town. She said phone scams in particular have been “doing a number” on seniors in the community. One woman, she said, paid thousands and thousands of dollars, thinking she had won the lottery. Council on Aging President Dot Sullivan said many seniors are frightened when they see a police cruiser going down the street. She said hopes the Outreach Program will change that attitude. In addition, Sullivan said she is happy about the triad. “I’m so pleased the triad is going to be revitalized again,” she said. “Triads are excellent programs.” After the meeting, Hughes and Pace said they have high hopes for the program. Hughes said he is looking forward to working with the senior organizations in town. He said the police department is fortunate to have a police chief that supports the program. “I’m lucky enough we have a supporting chief who is a 100 percent behind the program,” he said, adding that his colleagues involved with the program are “professional and dedicated” Pace said the meeting was only “the first step.” “Our Senior Outreach is going to be one of the priorities of the police department,” he said. Teresa A. Franco may be reached at tfranco@cnc.com. Copyright 2010 Randolph Herald. Some rights reserved
Family of copper heiress asks court to protect her from attorney, accountant Huguette Clark's relatives seek a guardian, as the criminal investigation of her money men continues NEW YORK — Three relatives of reclusive heiress Huguette Clark went to court Friday, asking that a guardian be appointed to protect her from potential financial abuse by her attorney and accountant. The family also asks the court to bar the two men from visiting their 104-year-old client. Msnbc.com reported last week that the Manhattan district attorney is investigating the finances of Clark, the only surviving daughter of a copper miner and U.S. senator. The DA's Elder Abuse Unit has detectives looking at transactions in her bank accounts, as well as the sale of her Stradivarius violin for $6 million and a Renoir painting for $23.5 million. "Our wish is to protect our aunt against exploitation and we are cooperating with authorities to do all that we can to ensure her health, safety and well-being," said a statement from the three half-nieces and half-nephews. "We respect her desire for privacy and request that others do the same for her and our entire family." Huguette ("hue-GET") Marcelle Clark is the last surviving child of Sen. William Andrews Clark of Montana (1839-1925), who in his time was described by The New York Times as either the first or second richest American. A stop on his railroad in Nevada became Las Vegas, where Clark County is named for him. Huguette has lived as a recluse for several decades, and has been in New York hospitals for about 22 years, leaving unoccupied her three homes in California, Connecticut and New York City. Her wealth, estimated at half a billion dollars, is managed by her attorney, Wallace "Wally" Bock, 78, of Queens, N.Y., and her certified public accountant, a convicted felon named Irving H. Kamsler, 63, of the Bronx, N.Y. Kamsler pleaded guilty in 2008 to attempting to distribute indecent material to 13- and 15-year-old girls online, and remains a registered sex offender in New York. The men have not been accused of a crime in the handling of the Clark finances. The petition was filed by three half-nieces and nephews, descendants of Huguette's father from his first marriage. The three are Ian C. Devine and Carla Hall Friedman, both of New York City, and Karine Albert McCall, of Washington, D.C. They say they represent three branches of Clark descendants.
Bogus Debt Collectors Attorney General Greg Zoeller issues a HIGH warning to all Hoosiers of a widespread scam that involves bogus debt collectors who have an alarming amount of personal information about their potential victims – putting consumers at high risk of identity theft and significant financial losses. According to the reports received by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, the fake debt collectors are impersonating law enforcement officers, lawyers or other official sounding agencies such as the “IRS Collection Service.” The scammers use very aggressive tactics to scare the consumer into paying the alleged debt. They accuse the victim of defaulting on a loan and, in some cases, claim they are about to be sued or even worse – they will tell the consumer they will be arrested and taken to jail if they don’t pay. The victims are pressured into wiring money or providing bank account information to avoid the matter “going to court” or to avoid “jail time.” In many cases, victims are subject to dozens of nasty, abusive phone calls in a matter of hours. Equally disturbing is the amount of private information these bogus collectors have about their victims, which may include Social Security numbers, home addresses, information about employers, credit references and even old bank account numbers. Potential victims are being asked to verify other private information that could put them at high risk of identity theft. The con artists likely obtained this sensitive information as a result of previous data breaches. This scam has been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Trade Commission, however consumers currently remain at risk. If you get one of these calls DO NOT provide any verifying information. Either hang up or demand that the "debt collector" send verification of the debt in writing. Under federal law, collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact. Immediately following the call, you should: Put a fraud alert on your credit file with all of the major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Because the scammers have obtained Social Security numbers, your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft is extremely high. You will automatically receive a copy of your credit report when you issue the fraud alert. Read it carefully and identify any item that is not yours. Look for new accounts or "hard" inquiries – this indicates credit requests have been made in your name. Place a FREE security freeze on your credit report to block potential identity thieves from accessing your credit. By placing a security freeze, an ID thief cannot use your information to open new credit accounts in your name. To learn more, go to www.IndianaConsumer.com. If you believe you’ve been contacted by a fraudulent debt collector you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Indiana Attorney General's Office.
Take Time During Crime Prevention Month To Help People Keep Their Money Safe Financial crimes are on the rise, making it more important than ever for people to protect their money. Yet, too many senior citizens, people with disabilities and other federal benefit recipients still receive their payments by paper check, putting their money and themselves at risk of check theft and other financial crimes. Make a special push during Crime Prevention Month this October to help the people you serve switch from paper checks to electronic payments for federal benefits. By getting payments electronically, people don't have to worry about their money being stolen from their mailboxes and are better protected against financial crimes. New, free materials are available to help community-based organizations share this important message, including: - Newsletter copy – Information suitable for an article highlighting the importance of getting federal benefit payments electronically.
- News briefs – Brief information suitable for newsletters, websites and other communication vehicles.
- Brief tips – Tips about electronic payments to use in newsletters, websites or social media posts.
Customized materials for financial institutions are also available. To learn more about ways to get involved in the Go Direct® campaign during Crime Prevention Month and beyond, contact a campaign representative by calling (952) 346-6055 or visiting www.GoDirect.org.
Seniors connected to police, community groups by organization
BY MORGAN DAY • The Eagle-Gazette Staff • LANCASTER -- Freda Hartley doesn't feel safe as she enters and exits her home alone at night, and she says she isn't the only one. The Lancaster senior citizen said she and her friends attend many community functions and church events, making several trips outside the home at night. But if no one is around when trouble strikes, who's going to help them? "Our neighbors live far away. Yelling ain't gonna do it," Hartley said Thursday after the first meeting of the Lancaster City Triad. The Triad is an organization that will connect senior citizens, law enforcement and community groups in an effort to
prevent crime. Hartley was one person who shared her concerns at the meeting, which took place that morning in the Olivedale Senior Center, 253 Boving Road. Triad coordinator Bryan Underwood, a detective with the Lancaster Police Department, addressed Hartley's issue. Hartley would like to see free self-defense classes for senior citizens, and that's something Underwood said might be a possibility through the Lancaster City Triad. He told the room of about 40 people that the organization doesn't only want to address crime. "I want everyday issues. Do they have questions about nutrition, fire safety, home security?" he said. "These are the types of topics we're going to talk about at the Triad meetings." The meetings will take place monthly in different places throughout the county. Fairfield County officials take crimes against the elderly seriously, said David Kessler, an investigator with the Fairfield County Prosecutor's Office who spoke that day. He said he and others hold crimes against the elderly above offenses like property crimes because the victim often is extremely distressed. "I deal with predators on a daily basis. Predators of children and predators of the elderly are the same in my eyes," Kessler said. Also leading the meeting was Dale Gilette, a Triad coordinator at the Ohio Attorney General's Office who helps develop Triad groups throughout the state. He said seniors, the fastest-growing segment of the population, often are left out of the equation when officials attempt to prevent crimes that victimize them. With the Triads, seniors' input is taken into account, he said. The retired Ross County deputy sheriff said crimes against the elderly often are not reported because of embarrassment. Not only that, but when they are reported and the crime causes financial loss, the victims rarely get their money back. The group hopes crime will lessen within the county through education. "This is not rocket science," Gilette said. "This is working with our seniors. This is educating our seniors about what's going on in the community." Zola Sherman, of Lancaster, attended the meeting after she heard it discussed at a Utica block watch meeting. She plans to stay involved in the Triad, she said afterward. "We care for the county and the city. We want to see people safe," Sherman said. "Our house was broken into several years back, and we've taken measures to protect our home. But, a lot of people can't do that." Morgan Day can be reached at (740) 681-4340 or mday@nncogannett.com.
Crime Prevention Month Poster Celebration! October is Crime Prevention Month! Throughout the entire month of October, NCPC will be hosting a poster celebration event. We invite you and your youth to participate. This is a fun and easy way to get youth thinking about crime prevention. Select posters will be featured on our poster gallery on NCPC’s website, www.ncpc.org <http://www.ncpc.org> . What: A poster event to celebrate Crime Prevention Month This month the spotlight for the posters will be to draw - Your safe community
- How you can show respect to your family, friends, or community
- McGruff the Crime Dog® a 30th birthday card
Who: Anyone under the age of 18 When: October 1, 2010 -October 31, 2010 How: Send posters with artist’s name, age, and state information to NCPC at National Crime Prevention Council
Attn: Joanna Li
2001 Jefferson Davis Highway
Suite 901
Arlington, VA 22202 Or send scanned copies or a photograph of posters to Joanna Li at jli@ncpc.org. To receive stickers or your free copy of McGruff’s new animated short, Samantha’s Choice, the story of a young girl who is afraid to go to ballet class for fear of being bullied, call Joanna Li at 202-261-4156. Please contact Joanna Li with questions at 202-261-4156 or jli@ncpc.org.
Training Package Features Elder Abuse Victims
"In Their Own Words: Domestic Abuse in Later Life" (NCJ 227928) is a two-DVD package and training guide. It uses the voices of older victims to facilitate a dialog among professionals about the dynamics of abuse, the barriers these victims must overcome to live free from abuse, and interventions and potential collaborations that may be effective in such cases. (OVC)
Pill Drop helps environment, community in South Bend area
By ERICA MORRISON Tribune Staff Writer
"Good morning, you got some drugs for me?" An arm extended from the vehicle's window, with a plastic bag full of prescription drug bottles, greeted volunteer Mike Morrison on Wednesday as he approached the car pulling into the Mishawaka Police Department parking lot. Morrison, along with other volunteers, joked about the irony of asking people for drugs in a police parking lot as they collected thousands of medications for Triad of St. Joseph County's annual Pill Drop. This is the second collection this year by the senior safety organization. Members have a collection every year in the spring and decided to have an additional one this year. Triad's mission is to collect over-the-counter and prescription medications and dispose of them properly in order to keep them out of waterways and the hands of young people. Kathy Fain, secretary of the St. Joseph County chapter of Triad, said the organization aims "to do whatever we can for senior citizens, but we do the Pill Drop for the whole community." Ted Zieke, of Mishawaka, came to drop off some of his prescription pills that he said are a result of his doctor changing his dosage. At the St. Joseph County Jail drop-off site in South Bend, Linda Brusky of Volunteers in Police Service said traffic was pretty steady Wednesday morning. From her experience, Brusky said, a number of people drop off medications from loved ones who have passed away. "They want to know if we mark the names off," she said as she stood in the parking lot waiting for donations. Behind her, the area was bustling as law enforcement and volunteers sorted through the medications — separating pills, liquids, syringes, ointments, inhalers and everything in-between. They scratch through patients' information with permanent markers and toss the prescription pill bottles into a box to be donated to overseas missions that reuse the bottles. Why participate? Triad has sponsored the Pill Drop since 2003. In May, the group collected 2,400 pounds of drugs. "They (young people) don't sell cocaine or marijuana — they sell pills. We see it all the time," Capt. Dan Gebo of Mishawaka Police said. Gebo noted he has been to parties where kids will have a bowl of prescription drugs on the table that they bring and use. "Kids can get ahold of them and abuse them ... sell them in schools and on the street," he said. Because of the growing problem, the Drug Enforcement Administration is launching its first nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative Sept. 25. Michele M. Leonhart, DEA acting administrator, said in a news release that the initiative was started to give Americans a proper way to dispose of their drugs. "This effort symbolizes DEA's commitment to halting the disturbing rise in addiction caused by their misuse and abuse," she noted. In addition to inappropriate human consumption, the Pill Drop also helps with the environment. "I don't want waste in the water just as much as anybody else," Wanda Levendoski, compliance officer for the Indiana Board of Pharmacy, said at the South Bend collection site. Levendoski said that when people put their medicines in the trash, they end up in a landfill and in turn end up contaminating the groundwater, which becomes our drinking water. In a meeting earlier this week, Levendoski said the pharmacy board discussed the need for pill drops and other ways for people to be able to properly dispose of their medications, and noted the group is trying to work on legislation to address the problem. What's next? According to Sgt. Bob Peppert of Mishawaka Police, the majority of the collected drugs will be taken to the South Bend Medical Foundation to be incinerated. Solid Waste Management District of St. Joseph County donates its services to dispose of the containers and liquid medications. All of the liquid medications will be poured into barrels at Solid Waste Management's Mishawaka location and taken to a company called PCI, whose facility is in Logansport, Ind. "The liquids will be put into a special cement kiln, which bi-products get absorbed into the cement " explained Tina Slabach, coordinator for Solid Waste Management. Solid Waste Management wants to remind people that it does not collect medications at any other time of the year unless through a Triad Pill Drop. Staff writer Erica Morrison:
emorrison@sbtinfo.com
574-247-7756
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