Seniors Learn How to Avoid Scams at the Job Haines Home

Most of us have an elderly person who’s special in our lives. Whether it’s a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle - nearly everyone has someone that needs special care or attention. Unfortunately, most of us don’t make enough time to be with those people as often as they need us. This is when the potential for them to become victims of a crime grows exponentially.

Fortunately, the Bloomfield Police Department is able to lend a helping hand through Officer Jose Munoz of the Community Policing Unit. He presented a seminar entitled “Seniors: Protect Yourself Against Scams” at the Job Haines Home on May 10th.

Some points discussed:

• The Grandparent Scam – A criminal will call and ask if you have a grandchild. Most, hearing desperation and already becoming worried, will not only answer with an affirmative but also give that grandchild’s name. The scammer will then say your grandchild is in jail or the hospital and in need of bail money or immediate medical assistance that can only be administered once money is sent. It is illegal for a doctor to refuse medical assistance. Don’t get taken in.
• The Nigerian Letter – “Nobody’s going to give you something for nothing,” says Officer Munoz. With this scam, the crooks will tell you that you’ve won a foreign lottery and that they need either your bank and personal information to transfer the funds, or money to pay the fees on your winnings.
• Identity Theft – This happens quite frequently through “pre-approved” credit card applications. When you throw them out, some thief is just waiting to snap them up. All they have to do is fill in a “change of address” box and they can get a credit card sent to them in your name. Shred all of your junk mail.
• Home Improvement Scam – This swindle involves lawbreakers getting up close and personal. A man may come to your door with work clothes and say that he has been working on the gutters of one of your neighbor’s homes. He will say that he noticed you have some damage as well. When he takes you around the side of the house to look at the gutters, his partner (who you didn’t even know was there) will sneak in and steal your valuables. Don’t open the door for these strangers.
• The Lotto Winner – What better way to trick people than to play on their sympathies. A working man will come up to you, with his child, and say that he has a winning lottery ticket. Unfortunately, he is an illegal alien and can’t cash it himself. He says if you buy the ticket from him he will sell it for only half of what it’s worth. Unfortunately, for you, it’s worth nothing. Munoz says a con man was caught at the Staples Center for this one.
• Internet Fraud – Internet Fraud can take many forms but most commonly it involves messages or emails claiming that you’ve won some sort of prize. You put your info in to collect your winnings and it’s already too late. “They go through that little wire, right into your bank account,” says Munoz.

Above all, Munoz advises that senior citizens stay vigilant. Don’t carry your birth certificate, social security card or your check book with you. Don’t fight for those things if you do end up being the victim of a crime. Your life is worth more than your purse.

“It was very interesting. I think everyone had a little something to think about, which was good,” said Lillian Ferrara, a resident at the Job Haines Home.

Donna Plotnick, Director of Marketing at the Job Haines Home, reiterated Ferrara’s statement saying, “The officer was very informative and I think the residents got a lot out of it.”