SAVE THE DATE!

The 2011 National Triad Conference will take place in Chicago, IL on October 3-5, 2011.

This year's mission: Law Enforcement & Aging: Building Safety Nets for Older Adults

Please join us in sharing new ways to educate and protect older adults in our communities, network, and discover the latest challenges, threats, scams, and abuse issues for older adults and what law enforcement can do about it.

Facebook 'Spam King' allegedly broke into a half million user accounts
 

Sanford Wallace, the so-called 'Spam King,' faces federal fraud charges for allegedly luring Facebook users to third-party websites that collected personal information for spam lists. He's already been convicted of compromising Facebook servers once before.

By Mark Guarino, Staff writer

A Las Vegas man faces 11 federal criminal counts related to 27 million unsolicited spam messages authorities say he launched via Facebook servers. Sanford Wallace received "substantial revenue" for the scheme, which involved compromising the accounts of nearly 500,000 users of the popular social network, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. Wallace turned himself into authorities Thursday. He pleaded not guilty and is free on a $100,000 unsecured bond. He faces more than 40 years in prison.

According to the indictment filed in San Jose, Calif., Wallace manipulated Facebook servers to send users bogus messages from unsuspecting friends, encouraging them to visit third party websites. Once users clicked on the links, their information was exposed and collected, including friend lists, which allowed the spam manipulation to spread widely.

The operation took place between November 2008 and March 2009, prosecutors said.

This is not Wallace's first clash with Facebook, the leading online social-network site, based in Palo Alto, Calif. The company successfully sued him in 2009 for compromising their servers. The judge issued a $711 million judgment against him and barred him from accessing Facebook. The current indictment says he violated that order.

Facebook lawyer Chris Sonderby released a statement Thursday saying the website "will continue to pursue and support both civil and criminal consequences for spammers and others" who attempt to harm its users.

The 11 counts leveled against Wallace include fraud, intentional damage to a protected computer, and criminal contempt for violating previous orders to stay off Facebook and MySpace.

Wallace's history with online spam dates back to the mid-1990s, when he headed a company called Cyber Promotions, which developed unsolicited e-mail marketing techniques.

In 2006, the Federal Trade Commission issued a $4 million fine for infecting computers with spyware - software designed to infiltrate hard drives and servers with the intent to collect information without user knowledge.

Wallace was banned from the social-networking site MySpace in 2007 by a federal judge after the company sued him for creating more than 10,000 fake profiles engineered to redirect legitimate users to third-party websites. The following year the judge issued a default judgment of $230 million.

Although Wallace was nicknamed the "Spam King," he is not the only one to hold that title. Last December, federal authorities arrested Oleg Nikolaenko, a Moscow man, for sending as many as 10 billion spam e-mails per day in what was described as a global spamming network. Mr. Nikolaenko is awaiting trial in Milwaukee. The criminal complaint says Nikolaenko advertised goods such as counterfeit Viagra or Rolex watches.

Efforts to combat spam may be shifting from the "spam kings" themselves to the financial institutions that support their transactions.

According to a study released in May by researchers at the Universities of California at Berkley and San Diego, 95 percent of all credit-card transactions for spam-related goods are handled by just three banks: one in Azerbaijan, one in Denmark, and one on the West Indies island of Nevis. They suggest that targeting banks that handle merchant accounts controlled by spamming operations may be a more effective away to deter their activities.

NATI Conference Highlight: Constructive Work for those with Disabilities

The BEAVER COUNTY REHABILITATION CENTER (BCRC) was founded by parents of people with disabilities almost 50 years ago. (Next year is our fiftieth anniversary).  It started in a church basement with nine individuals; we have since grown to a staff of over 150 who service over 675 individuals with disabilities in any one month.  Our mission is to provide the opportunity for vocational growth and independence while respecting the dignity and uniqueness of each individual with a disability.

It's the job of BCRC to make sure that every day one of our guys comes to work, that we have a job for them to do. (As you can imagine, it isn't an easy thing to do in this economy)...Most of BCRC jobs come from Manufacturers that we sub-contract with. This emergency information card is the first "product" of our own that we manufacture ourselves for ourselves in our production center.

BCRC also has a flower shop and own a Candy Bouquet franchise here at our facility that the public can purchase from and have items delivered just like a florist. We can deliver all over the world because we are also a UPS provider through our mailing services. (One of the other opportunities we have for employment).  All proceeds of our work goes to support the non-profit.

Our "tag" line is "we teach work with work"

BCRC is a nonprofit agency who helps people with physical or mental disabilities gain employment and meaningful work by producing EMERGENCY INFORMATION CARDS that are used in homes, especially the elderly or those with a disability identifying life threatening conditions to first responders that can be customized for each individual Triad.  Look for the sample card in your welcome packets at the upcoming National NATI Conference.

BCRC will have a booth at the National Triad Conference OCT 3rd-5th 2011 and we encourage you to stop by and see how Triads and BCRC can both benefit from working together. 

For more information contact Joanna Greco 724-847-1306 ext. 113 or email jgreco@bcrc.net.  The Web address is www.bcrc.net and BCRC is located at 1517 6th Avenue New Brighton PA 15066

Jail inmates make crank calls, public pays

Even while incarcerated, Los Angeles County jail inmates are increasingly victimizing unsuspecting people thanks to growing phone fraud schemes, authorities say.

Sheriff's investigators are warning people of a new trend emerging in which inmates are cold-calling numbers and yelling "Emergency!" while the recorded warning plays stating that the call is from an inmate.

Once the unsuspecting person accepts the collect call, the inmate will usually say he is a deputy or employee and that he has information about a loved one that is injured. The inmate will then tell the victim to call a sergeant or supervisor for information. They tell the person to dial *72 followed by a phone number the inmate provides, usually for a girlfriend or gang associate. According to deputies, *72 is a code that transfers calls to the number entered.

After the victim unknowingly sets their phone to transfer calls, the inmates begin making calls. All charges are passed on to the victim, according to investigators.

Detectives say the charges add up very quickly and can run up to several thousands of dollars before the victim finds out.

Sheriff's officials said they learned of the scam from the public.

"We have gotten complaints and we are investigating them," said Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore. "But it is very difficult to tell which inmate was on the phone."

He advised people to hang up if they receive such a call and notify the nearest sheriff's department. "Our jail will never call you and leave a number for you to call," he said.

The department is now actively monitoring the issue, he said, and hopes to eliminate the problem with a new phone technology.

-- Richard Winton

Ind. AG Signs New Ripley County Triad

News release from Office of the Indiana Attorney General

(Versailles, Ind.) -  Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller addressed Ripley County law enforcement and community activists July 27 during the Ripley County Triad charter signing ceremony at the Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles, Ind.

Triad is an association between law enforcement, seniors and community organizations focused on protecting the well-being of seniors by fostering education and the prevention of consumer fraud while promoting safety issues.

"It is unfortunate, and all too often, that senior citizens are the targets of consumer fraud and scams," Zoeller said. "Today Ripley County joins an excellent network of Indiana Triad programs that are working specifically to protect those Hoosiers who are at risk and to whom we owe so much for their contribution to our society."

Ripley County Triad becomes one of 24 local Triad programs in Indiana involving 22 counties. Triads across the state host various programs to help educate seniors and provide them with consumer tips.

"We are pleased to be working with the Attorney General's office and members of the community on such a valuable asset for our citizens," said Thomas Grills, Ripley County Sheriff. "The Triad will be a great opportunity for law enforcement and community leaders to assist those from becoming victims of crime. We want to promote and work towards a community of trust, and with the Triad we will be able to be a catalyst for just that. With resources from our area as well as the state, the Triad should be a great attribute to our community."

More information about Triad is available on the Attorney General's website at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2387.htm.

Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch

Sleepy Eye, Minn.

What is TRIAD

TRIAD is a partnership of three organizations; law enforcement, senior citizens and community groups.
The sole purpose of TRIAD is to promote senior safety and to reduce the fear of crime that seniors often experience.
TRIAD has been described as The Right Information and Direction and welcomes all persons to join.

What TRIADS do

• Educate: by sponsoring crime prevention and public education for older adults.
• Assist: by recruiting and training volunteers to assist police departments, sheriff's offices and other agencies.
• Support: by identifying community resources and providing referrals to older persons to help reduce fear and lend moral support.
• Unite: by involving the senior population, law enforcement, community agencies and individuals to identify problem areas in their communities.

Brown County
TRIAD Projects

Emergency information refrigerator cards and medical cards for the glove box. These cards give information to medical personnel on your allergies, medications and who to contact in case of an emergency when you are not able to answer these questions. Card are available at no cost from any TRIAD member, or the sheriff's office.

Members of the sheriff's office and TRIAD offer presentations to any groups in Brown County regarding current frauds and scams and what you can do to protect yourself. If you would like a presentation for your group or organization, contact Brown County TRIAD representative, Opal Dewanz at 507-359-9808. TRIAD representatives will be a participant during Sleepy Eye's Party in the Park, Thursday, July 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. in Allison Park.

Current Scams

Currently there are two ongoing scams targeting seniors in the area.

In one, the victim receives a letter or phone call telling them they have won a large sum of money and a new car; all the person has to do is send some money to cover the taxes and processing. The money sent goes out of the country and there is no way of getting it back. If it is too good to be true, it probably is not true.

The second scam involves an elderly person getting a late night phone call from someone saying that a grandchild needs money for bail or some problem. The person calling often knows the names of family members and information about the family and are quite believable. Before sending money, check with other family members.

It is now fair season. If you are signing up for drawings to win something, your name and information may well be sold to others. Shortly after that you may begin to see a lot of junk mail and phone calls. This information is not a scam, but something TRIAD feels all people should be aware of.

Copyright 2011 The Sleepy Eye Herald Dispatch. Some rights reserved

Keeping elders safer

The Merrymeeting TRIAD program represents an increasingly valuable local resource for protecting older residents of the Mid-coast region from scams and predatory behaviors by strangers and, sadly, family members.

With daily phone check-ins, expired medication collections, driving refresher classes and other informational programs, this consortium of law-enforcement professionals, medical providers, community service organizations and concerned citizens has established an invaluable safety net for the growing number of older folks who now reside in our midst.

While TRIAD has accomplished a great deal to help older Mid-coast residents live more safely in their homes, its leaders are not content to sit on their laurels. Motivated by a series of attempted scams - direct and online - that targeted older Maine residents this spring and summer, the group's leaders secured a grant to distribute a brochure that offers simple guidelines on what to do if confronted with potential fraud.

A letter from the TRIAD board about the program appears below. Information about where to find the brochures appears at the end of the letter.

Through the almost 14 years that Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD has been in existence, the support of The Times Record has been crucial in helping raise awareness of TRIAD's mission to reduce crimes against and ensure the well-being of older adults in the community.    

TRIAD's board of volunteers is continually advocating for this segment of the population, providing information and educational programs specifically about prevention of crimes that target this segment of population, as well as safety issues - whether of the pocketbook or person.    

Programs initiated or supported by TRIAD range from the unused medication collection, the AARP Safe Driver class, "Keep an Eye on Your Purse" and efforts to prevent various scams and fraudulent activity - to name a few.    Currently, TRIAD is working with Curtis Memorial Library and will participate in the investment fraud prevention segment of the library's financial literacy series.       

Through volunteer efforts, TRIAD has just published a new brochure that succinctly provides basic information on when and where to seek assistance or report incidents. This was made possible by receipt of a grant written by board members who are now making every effort to ensure that the brochures widely available and widely known.   

Copies are available at town offices, police and fire departments, medical offices, libraries, senior centers, places of worship, housing communities and from other organizations that serve seniors.    

Roberta Banks, chairwoman    

Connie Lewis, co-Chairwoman

Eagle Scout project targets street numbers

Town Talk-Jesse Poole The Gloucester Daily Times

Sat Aug 20, 2011, 05:15 AM EDT

Andres Ramirez is a junior at Manchester Essex Regional High School.

He's also working on completing his final Eagle Scout service project in Manchester - to obtain legible street numbers for all residences and businesses in the town and for the safety of the buildings' occupants.

As the first step of his project, Ramirez, with the help of Manchester Boy Scouts Troop 3, will be delivering information fliers to all residents a week from today.

Ramirez' project is being sponsored by Manchester's Triad program, which links local police with services for senior citizens to enhance their safety.

Essex Music Fest next week

The annual Essex Music Festival is just one week away.

The festival this year is marking its 18th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 27, and is set to run from noon to 10:30 p.m. at Centennial Grove on Chebacco Lake. Admission is $10, but children 15 and younger are admitted free, with net proceeds going to the restoration of Centennial Grove.

The festival features a variety of music and 20 performers, with host band Old Cold Tater to be joined by bluegrass, Americana, folk, blues and other musicians, with a Cajun dance party from 7 to 10 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Woodman's restaurant of Essex.

Jesse Poole compiles information about events, services and programs in Manchester and Essex. If you have a news tip or submission for the weekly Town Talk column, you can reach him at 978-283-7000 x3447 or gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.

Police find new purpose for old cell phones

MOLLY DAVIS, Staff Writer

REDLANDS - With new and improved cell phones coming out all the time, what's one to do with their old, outdated phones?

Now people can turn those old phones into a life-saving device for those in need.

"The Redlands Police Department has joined a national program to collect used cell phones, which are then donated to needy senior citizens and victims of abuse for emergency use," said city spokesman Carl Baker. "Several collection sites throughout the city will accept used cell phones, donated by residents."

Once collected, the police department will send the cell phones off to the 911 Cell Phone Bank, where they will be processed, and their memories wiped clean.

According to the police, more than 11million cell phones are retired each month nationwide.

"As millions of people upgrade their old cell phones or receive new ones, donating them to the Police Department can help local residents and the local environment," Baker said.

Redlands police officer Elyzabeth Green is coordinating the effort. There are six different drop box locations within the city where residents can donate their used phones, including the A.K. Smiley Public Library and the Redlands Community Center.

The phones go to people that "don't have the means for calling 9-1-1," Green said. "They don't have the funds, or they're not able to call for help. This is a way for the department to get out and contribute."

The effort is part of the National Association of Triads, a subsidiary of the National Sheriffs' Association, which is a national partner of the 911 Cell Phone Bank. They encourage all law enforcement and victim services agencies to get involved with the 911 Cell Phone Bank, the RPD said.

"The 911 Cell Phone Bank has been a great partner," said Edward Hutchison, the executive director of NAT. "Having this resource available enables law enforcement to focus on serving the community and lets communities give back in a small but meaningful way."

The National Association of Triads is a partnership of law enforcement, senior citizens, and community groups which exists to promote senior safety and reduce the unwarranted fear of crime that seniors often experience, according to police.

"Your donation could be the difference between life or death," Green said. "You're not using (the old phone), so why not make it beneficial to someone else? It's an act of selflessness (to donate)."

Email Staff Writer Molly Davis at mdavis@redlandsdailyfacts.com

Where to drop off cell phones:

Redlands Police Department, 1270 W. Park Ave.

North Sub Police Station, 1560 N. Orange St.

A.K. Smiley Public Library, 125 W. Vine St.

Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave.

Joslyn Senior Center, 21 Grant St. 

Elder abuse: a growing problem here

The 64-year-old Lancaster amputee depended on his personal care aide to help him bathe, dress and fix nutritious meals.

But instead, police allege, the aide abused her patient's vulnerability and trust, neglecting him so badly that he developed skin ulcers deep enough to reach his muscle and bone.

When the man finally checked into a local hospital, doctors found severe wounds on his leg, foot, back and genitals. He eventually lost his right leg to amputation.

The former aide, Mary Lou Robinson, is charged with neglect and reckless endangerment.

The case marks the start of a stepped-up effort to fight an epidemic of elder abuse that is unreported and unpunished, Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said.

"People don't want to think about this. They don't want to talk about it," he said. "That's part of the problem."

Experts say neglect, financial exploitation, and physical and sexual abuse of older adults is widespread in Lancaster County, which reports more cases of elder abuse than nearly any other Pennsylvania county.

Just as unsettling, obstacles from lack of reporting to few investigators with elder-abuse expertise keep most perpetrators from being punished.

"As a law enforcement culture, it's not something we typically deal with," said Stedman, who has seen only a handful of prosecuted cases in 20 years.

"Elder abuse ... should be handled as a criminal matter. We have a responsibility in this area."

The district attorney hopes a new elder abuse unit formed in partnership with the county Office of Aging and local police departments will lead to increased prosecution of crimes against older adults.

According to Pennsylvania law, an "elder" is anyone age 60 or older.

The new unit could impact a significant number of people: Lancaster County is home to 77,780 adults age 65 and over - among the most in any Pennsylvania county, according to the latest census data.

And in the last 10 years, the number of alleged elder-abuse cases reported annually to the county Office of Aging has nearly tripled.

The new unit's leaders recently wrote a formal protocol for elder-abuse investigations, which did not previously exist. Police countywide can follow the new guidelines to work more efficiently with the DA and Office of Aging.

But in order to investigate abuse, authorities first have to hear about it. The unit now will focus on raising awareness and encouraging people to come forward with cases of elder abuse, which can go unreported more than 80 percent of the time.

Officials eventually will address prevention with educational programs on recognizing signs of elder abuse and related topics.

The new unit's first cases - the neglect case and three others involving alleged financial exploitation - are on the court docket for this summer.

In the financial cases, people in positions of trust, including a caregiver and a person with power of attorney, allegedly bilked unsuspecting elderly victims of amounts from $9,310 to $62,600.

"The victims are entrusted in someone else's care, and that person ends up taking advantage of them," said Assistant District Attorney Todd P. Kriner, the new unit's prosecutor. "Those are the worst types of crimes."
  Reports on the rise
The prevalence of elder abuse is difficult to accurately measure, largely due to limited reporting. But experts agree it is a growing problem.

Elder abuse is a far less obvious crime than a bank robbery or home invasion. Cases can go unreported for a number of reasons, Stedman said.

Some older victims are unable or unwilling to report abuse, especially if the perpetrator is a friend or relative. Others might not realize they're being victimized.

"There is also just a natural tendency to not want to believe that people will do these kinds of things to their family member or someone in their care," Stedman said.

The U.S. Administration on Aging's National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that 1 million to 2 million adults age 65 and older are victimized every year.

But the center admits those figures likely just scratch the surface. For every known case of elder abuse, five more go unreported. And for financial exploitation in particular, as few as 1 in 25 cases may be known to investigators.

The Office of Aging's protective services unit investigates local reports of elder abuse and works to keep suspected victims safe.

Reports can come from neighbors, health care providers and other community members, or from victims themselves.

So far this year, Office of Aging caseworkers have investigated 81 to 131 reports per month.

Self-neglect is the most common report, followed by financial exploitation, then neglect or abuse by a caregiver, said Kevin Nieli, protective services unit supervisor.

County reports of abuse jumped 71 percent in three years, according to Office of Aging figures. There were 1,174 reports in 2010, compared to 686 in 2007.

"Ever since the economy started to go downhill, our numbers went way up," Nieli said.

Unemployed relatives who move in with older adults might financially exploit or abuse them, Nieli said. Other people in bad financial situations might specifically target seniors for scams.

Only Philadelphia and Allegheny counties - both with significantly larger populations of older adults - reported more cases of alleged elder abuse in 2010.

Reports continue to soar, with 821 so far this year. But Nieli suspects his office hears about only a small percentage of actual abuse cases.
  Fighting back
Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon and other nearby counties have launched similar efforts against elder abuse in the last 10 years. Then-attorney general Tom Corbett started a statewide unit in 2006.

Limited resources previously kept the county from forming its own unit, Stedman said. Creative use of existing resources allows it to happen now.

Kriner works for the new unit part time. He continues to handle other cases, including child abuse, sexual assaults, homicides and appeals.

If its public awareness campaign leads to more elder-abuse cases, the unit could eventually add another attorney, Kriner said.

Stedman also shifted responsibilities in Victim/Witness Services to create a part-time elder abuse victim advocate position.

The Office of Aging will continue to investigate and report suspected elder abuse to local police. In the past, some departments lacked time and expertise to investigate complex elder-abuse cases, Nieli said.

The new protocol will help steer investigators through issues unique to elder-abuse cases, Stedman said. For example, the guidelines list behaviors commonly seen in older victims of sexual abuse and key documents to look for in financial exploitation cases.

Following the protocol is voluntary, but Stedman said he expects a high level of cooperation from police. Departments contacted by the Sunday News indicated they would follow the guidelines.

"[The protocol] provides us with a blueprint of the information that is critical to the DA's office to prosecute the cases," East Lampeter Township police Chief John Bowman said.

"It will aid and benefit our officers because they will know up front the required questions to ask and the evidence they must prepare to aid in these specific prosecutions."

More vigorous enforcement of elder-abuse laws will discourage future would-be criminals from preying on the elderly, Nieli said.

"[In the past] your chances of jail time or punishment were so slim." he said. " ...You weren't taking a big chance.

"Now that's going to change."

mschweigert@lnpnews.com

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/438794_Elder-abuse--a-growing-problem-here.html#ixzz1VEGD1Nne