Trusting Seniors Urged To Be Wary Of Scams

By Jan Howard

People fall prey to scams every day, and senior citizens, in particular, are targeted, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal told about 60 area residents who attended a Senior Consumer Awareness Day April 26 in Monroe.

The program, which promoted financial safety and personal awareness for senior citizens, was hosted by Miracle Faith Outreach Ministry and sponsored by People’s Bank, CAPS (Community Awareness Program for Seniors), Monroe Police Department, and Monroe Senior Resource Center.

In his keynote address, Attorney General Blumenthal urged senior citizens to learn how to be teachers to others so they also may avoid scams and con artists.

“Seniors are targeted,” the attorney general said. “They are the product of a more trusting age, and there are dangers and hazards if they are not careful.”

He urged seniors to take precautions and to report what they see or hear regarding potential scams to the police. “Your being here is an important statement about your interest in being a partner in this effort,” he said. “I hope you learn a lot today.”

Legislative Update

Affordable prescription drugs are a “hot ticket in Hartford,” State Rep Pat Shea (R-112) told the Awareness Day gathering, with several different bills under consideration.

She mentioned proposed bills that would raise the eligibility income for ConnPACE, a state program that pays the cost of prescription drugs, after a $12 co-pay per prescription, for senior citizens and handicapped individuals 18 and over.

Also before the General Assembly are bills that would provide statewide bus service. First, however, Rep Shea said, it must be determined where people want to go. “We need to talk to people about what they want to do,” she noted.

Rep Shea said the state is also looking into a respite program for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients that would provide additional funds to give respite from 24-hour care.

Long-term care is a big concern, Rep Shea said. “People want to stay home. We’re trying to make that possible in any way we can.”

Moderator Gerd Weindling, the state president of AARP, emphasized that people must let their legislators know when they agree or disagree with issues. “Pick up the phone or write a letter to let them know how you feel.”

He also suggested that senior citizens shop around for prescription drugs. “Prices are not always the same at each pharmacy,” he noted.

In regard to assisted living and long-term care, he urged seniors to know what’s available to them. “Be more aware consumers,” Mr Weindling said. “Advocate for your own well being.”

Scams

“Watch out for your neighbors,” Detective Bernard Halapin of the Monroe Police Department said, noting more Neighborhood Watch programs should be formed.

“Know what’s going on,” he said. “If someone gets scammed, let others know.”

He called attention to a common homeowner scam, driveways by “fly-by-nighters.”

“Make sure the company is licensed by the State of Connecticut,” he advised. “They must post a bond. Call Consumer Education to find out about contractors.”

Get written quotes, and talk to someone who had the work done.

“Make sure you get a contract which gives the day they will start and finish,” he added.

Beware of letters asking for money, he said. “They’re good at what they do. Be careful of the transactions you do.”

Det Halapin said when writing a check, don’t put your account number on it in case the check is stolen.

“Every now and then, ask for a credit report,” he said. “Look for companies not associated with your name.”

In using the Internet, it was suggested that it be used for shopping information, and order through the 800 number or mailing address, rather than using a credit card on the Web.

FBI Special Agent Lisa Bull warned against giving any information to telemarketers or to mail or phone surveys. She noted that following a death in the family, you might get a flurry of calls. Many of these are from fraudulent telemarketers that obtained your name and address from the obituary.

“Don’t give it up,” Ms Bull said of Social Security and credit card numbers.

Once on a sucker list, you can get calls from anybody, she noted. “Some offers might seem good but want up-front funds.” This is the first clue that things are not right.

Scam artists can ask for verification of a credit card number. Don’t tell them. If the company is legitimate, they already know the number, she said. In addition, she noted, “A credit card company that’s legitimate won’t call your house at 9 pm. Report it.”

These crimes are difficult to prosecute, she said. “Once they’ve mooched the market, they leave for someplace else. It makes it difficult to prosecute.”

If scammed, she said, don’t hesitate to report it.

Ms Bull said if you are alone in a car and involved in a rear end collision, don’t get out of the car. “Someone else may be in on it,” she said. “When you get out of the car to see the damage, someone else may steal the purse you left on the seat.”

Auto accidents can also lead to car insurance scams, Ms Bull said. If involved in a motor vehicle accident, know the repair shop you are using or call the Better Business Bureau if you have any questions.

Your car might have had only minimal damage, but once in the shop, more damage may have been inflicted upon it, leading to a much larger claim to the insurance company.

As a result of these scams, car insurance rates go up, she noted. “Report it if you feel a crime is going on.”

A recent case in which annuities were offered scammed $40 million from unsuspecting investors. “It looked good on paper, with a high percent of return,” she said. “It sounded too good to be true. Guess what? It was.”

The scam targeted retirees, and involved 28,000 people, who eventually got their money back, she said. Most of those involved in perpetrating the scam were convicted.

Angela DeLeon of People’s Bank said two recent scams are taking place in shopping centers. In each scenario, the person is being set up for being abducted and robbed. In one, a person is asked if they would appear in a pizza commercial outside, but once outside, they are abducted. In another, a woman runs into the shopping center saying her baby is choking. “Now, who wouldn’t want to help a baby?” she said. “When a person goes to help, they are abducted.”

 “The person may be well dressed. They may not look like criminals,” she said. “They may not always be guys or young people.”

Some Hints To Avoid Theft

Officer John Butler of the Monroe Police Department offered the following hints to avoid being robbed:

Lock the doors of your house. He said many senior citizens still don’t keep their doors locked.

Take the keys out of your car when it’s in the driveway. Don’t leave them on the floor or behind the visor.

Leave a light on if you are away at night.

Don’t let mail and newspapers pile up while you’re on vacation.

Medicare Fraud

In 1998, $12.6 billion was lost from Medicare through outright fraud or abuse and errors.

Alice Deak of the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging urged Medicare recipients to be alert to Medicare fraud and to help save health care dollars.

“Check your statements,” she said. “Make sure you received all the services they say. Let them know about mistakes. Be good consumers. Look at your bills.”

Contact your doctor’s office regarding mistakes in their bills, she said.

If there are major problems with insurance bills, Ms Deak suggested contacting Medi$ave at 877-SAVE-477 to report potential abuse or fraud or the agency’s CHOICEs program at 800-994-9422 for questions about health care costs.

“Don’t pay bills until all health care insurance has been paid,” she said. “Otherwise, you may incorrectly pay.”

Ms Deak also advised seniors to beware of discount offers for prescriptions that might not be legitimate. “Let the buyer beware,” she said. While some discount cards are legitimate, some are a marketing ploy.