GREENE – Shady contractors, phony sweepstakes, email scams, telephone solicitations and identity theft are some of the ways scam artists try to separate seniors from their nest eggs, according to one of New York’s assistant attorney generals.
“Remember that old saying – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true,” Assistant Attorney General Dennis McCabe told local seniors during a visit to the Brightman Senior Center in Greene on Monday. His presentation, called “Safe Seniors,” is part of a statewide effort by the Attorney General’s office to educate seniors on how to avoid scam artists who prey on the elderly.
“We know statistically that seniors are targeted for scams at a much higher rate,” said McCabe. Living on fixed incomes or limited retirements, seniors are often the ones in society who can least afford to lose the money. Those with fewer friends and family are even more vulnerable, he said. “Recognize that seniors living alone are the number one target,” he said.
Now seniors may be at an even higher risk. “Historically, in very difficult economic times, the scam artists gear up,” McCabe explained, as he discussed specific schemes designed to part older adults from their money.
This time of year, transient home-improvement contractors are a common scam, he said. These contractors come into a neighborhood promising a deal on either a product or a service.
“What they want is cash,” he said, but once the payment is received they “either don’t do the work, or do a shoddy job.”
To avoid these problems, it is best to use a local, reputable contractor and obtain multiple bids, McCabe said. The Attorney General’s office maintains a list of contractors they suggest consumers be wary of, he added.
Sweepstakes scams are also common. A senior is notified by either phone or mail that they have won a sweepstakes, lottery or other contest. The catch is that in order to receive their large cash prize, they must first pay the taxes on the money.
“If you have to pay money to get your money, don’t do it,” McCabe said, no matter how convincing the prize notification may look and sound.
Scam artists are increasingly savvy in their presentation, even sending out authentic looking checks which McCabe said are often good enough to fool most bank tellers. The scammer asks the senior to deposit the check and then wire or send a portion of the money back to cover the requisite taxes and fees. Unfortunately, once the check is identified as fraudulent, the unwitting senior gets stuck for the full amount including bank penalties.
McCabe held up a hand full of these false documents, including business checks, travelers checks and money orders. All looked convincingly real, including one which had been sent to one of his fellow assistant attorney general.
“I know it’s tempting,” McCabe said.
Most scam artists quickly transfer the money out of the country and even if the perpetrators are arrested, it is not recouped.
“If you buy into this, the chances of you getting your money back are very remote,” he said. “If you have any inclination to do it; call the mayor, call the undersheriff or call the AG’s office. We will not be bothered by that phone call. We welcome it.”
According to Chenango County Undersheriff Ernest Cutting, the best thing someone can do is ask questions and to “check and double check” before buying in. “Call the Sheriff’s Department,” he said. “We’ll be happy to investigate your complaint.”
McCabe also cautioned seniors about making donations to charitable organizations through telemarketers. According to a report published by his office called Pennies for Charities, only 39 cents of every dollar given to a charity through a telemarketer ever reaches the charity. The remaining 61 cents remains with the telemarketing firm.
“There is a better way to give,” he said.
He also encouraged seniors to sign up for the Do Not Call Registry. While this won’t eliminate calls, it will cut down on the number of unsolicited calls. “You may have more of a clue that these people are scam artists,” he said.
Greene Mayor Marcia Miller reminded residents of an incident in which a senior couple were robbed after letting an individual into their home who they believed was from the water department.
“Don’t take the chance of letting anyone in your home,” Miller said. All town and village employees carry identification, she said, and residents should not hesitate to verify those credentials if there is any question.
Linda Guinn, an outreach worker with the Area Agency on the Aging, cautioned the seniors present about giving out their personal information.
“Be careful with your important dates and numbers,” Guinn said. To help prevent identity theft information like birth dates, Medicare numbers, bank account information and social security numbers should not be shared.
No matter how careful a person is, however, there is still the chance that their identity may be stolen, McCabe said. The key then becomes filing reports with local law enforcement and your credit card companies. “You will get the full protection of (New York State’s) Consumer Protection Law if you report it in a timely fashion,” he explained.
McCabe left copies of several brochures at the community center so that others who could not attend could still benefit from the program. He also encouraged those present to share what they learned with their friends and family.