Are Your Loved Ones Being Targeted

Are Your Loved Ones Being Targeted?Detective Mike Clark of the Santa Rosa Police Department has finally stopped the flow...at least he thinks he has. But Clark is certain the nature of elderly fraud is changing, and this Northern California city is a focal point. The telephone calls come from Canada, and the caller identifies himself as an official of the Canadian National Lottery. The recipient of the call is one lucky retiree...he or she has won millions in the Canadian Lottery! And there's only one small step to collecting those millions; Canadian law requires the taxes be paid before the money is collected. And those taxes can be as much as ten or twenty thousand in American money.

This is a sophisticated scam, according to Clark. The callers refer their 'marks' to other government agencies and attorneys -- phone numbers provided -- in order to confirm the legality of the 'lottery'. The money for the taxes is then wired to Montreal, and arrives at its' destination within minutes. Clark used to receive about one call every six months regarding this particular scam. This year that has increased to two calls a week.

The police in Santa Rosa have been successful in getting the word out and stopping some people from wiring their money. But why has Santa Rosa, California become the testing ground of the most ambitious elderly fraud scam seen in this area? Clark explains.

"We have a fairly large elder and well-to-do population in this area. Victims think they are sending their money to a Canadian lottery official, but it's going to an apartment building."

Although Clark and his team have started to stop the flow, the scam will move on to other cities and other states. If you suspect a loved one has been a victim of this scam, contact Clark at: 707/543-3575.

Your parents and other elderly loved ones are more vulnerable to fraud now than at any other time in history. Telephone and direct mail scams have become sophisticated enough to fool even the most savvy, and pitches are more difficult to resist when life approaches its' zenith. How can you protect your loved ones from being scammed? Particularly vulnerable are those who live alone. There are warning signs that someone is a target. Does he or she receive a large volume of bulk mailings? Many contest offers? Don't assume you know what is happening; always ask. Sometimes confusion and miscommunication is all that keeps scammers going.

The National Fraud Information Center is part of the National Consumers League, formed in 1992 because telemarketing and direct mail scams became so prolific. Now, with the majority of the population aging quickly and people living longer, the elderly have become the focal point. If you suspect elderly fraud, telephone the center at 1-800-876-7060 or send a message through their website: www.fraud.org. According to Aaron Soares of the NFIC, there are approximately 14,000 illegal telemarketing operations operating at any given time, in countries around the world. Elders are most likely to be targeted in Telemarketing Frauds, Home Repair, sweepstakes and contests, investment opportunities, discount travel, and counterfeit charities.

The National Consumers League was formed in 1899, and is one of the oldest consumer protection groups in the U.S. Through The Elderly Fraud Project the League offers a 20-minute video entitled "They Can't Hang Up". This video, available for the cost of postage, is accompanied by a brochure on the subject which can be viewed at: www.nclnet.org. To order the video, contact the National Consumers League at: 202/835-3323.

Law enforcement and senior advocates stress that immediate action must be taken if fraud is suspected. Don't be embarrassed to call the police -- the Administration on Aging advises dialing 911 if the fraud is actually in-progress. The National Senior Citizens Law Center offers litigation services for low-income seniors. Directing Attorney Gerald McIntyre can be reached at: 213/639-0930. All states are required to make funding available for free legal services on noncriminal matters for people over age 60. The NSCLC can provide referrals to local chapters. Their website is: www.nsclc.org. Above all, keep the lines of communication with your loved ones open -- don't hold back because you know the elderly want to be independent. Sometimes, they require your help to remain so. To call the District of Columbia Office: 202/289-6976; the Los Angeles Office: 213/639-0930; the Oakland office: 570/663-1055.

***

Sources Used in Story:

S.R.P.D. (Detective Clark): 707/543-3575.

The National Fraud Information Center : www.fraud.org.; 1-800-876-7060

The National Consumers League: www.nclnet.org.; 202/835-3323.

National Senior Citizens Law Center : www.nsclc.org.

Gerald McIntyre: 213/639-0930

1101 14th Street, NW Suite 400

Washington, DC 20004

The Senior Fraud Fight Bureau: www.fightseniorfraud.org. 570/233-1577.