Elderly SCAM Alerts

Date Posted: 03/31/2021

The Parsons Police Department wants to reach out to the community and remind everyone about scams. This day and age the criminals that are conducting these scams are reaching out though a variety of sources. They send letters, send emails, texts, phone calls and social media.

"The reach that these people have is unreal," according to Sergeant Jason Ludwig. "We just want our citizens to know and recognize that scams are out there, and they need to be reported. Just remember that a law enforcement agency will never call you and demand money on a prepaid card or ask for your personal information over the phone to avoid being arrested."

Sergeant Cheryl Landon said, "The social security administration will never call you to advise you of your social security number being compromised nor will they ever call demanding money. Never verify your bank account number or your social security number to an unknown individual over the phone. If it does not sound right call your local law enforcement and request to speak with an officer. If law enforcement or the FBI which is another common agency used want to arrest you we will come to your residence we will never call you to inform you we are coming."

Some of the scams that we have seen locally have been individuals getting calls about their social security card being compromised and leading to their bank account being compromised as well. The criminal then has the victim switch to a "safe account" provided by the criminal. Locally there have been fake calls about being a law enforcement officer and having a warrant for their arrest. Then they demand a money transfer through Western Union or another money gram. Another locally identified scam is that there is a loved one in jail and needed money to bail them out. These are just a few instances that have been brought to the attention of our local police department. Please beware of these and other scams presented.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations website:

Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme, including romance, lottery, and sweepstakes scams, to name a few. Criminals will gain their targets' trust and may communicate with them directly via computer, phone, and the mail, or indirectly through the TV and radio. Once successful, scammers are likely to keep a scheme going because of the prospect of significant financial gain.

Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite. They also usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit-all of which make them attractive to scammers.

Additionally, seniors may be less inclined to report fraud because they don't know how, or they may be too ashamed of having been scammed. They might also be concerned that their relatives will lose confidence in their abilities to manage their own financial affairs. And when an elderly victim does report a crime, they may be unable to supply detailed information to investigators.

With the elderly population growing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud is likely to be a growing problem.

Common Elder Fraud Schemes

Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on their elderly victims' desire to find companions.
Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues. The scammers gain remote access to victims' devices and sensitive information.
Grandparent scam: Criminals pose as a relative-usually a child or grandchild-claiming to be in immediate financial need.
Government impersonation scam: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments.
Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam: Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations to gain victims' trust. Or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a "fee."
Home repair scam: Criminals appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services that they never provide.
TV/radio scam: Criminals target potential victims using illegitimate advertisements about legitimate services, such as reverse mortgages or credit repair.
Family/caregiver scam: Relatives or acquaintances of the elderly victims take advantage of them or otherwise get their money.

Protect Yourself

Recognize scam attempts and end all communication with the perpetrator.
Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run scams.
Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action. Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one.
Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door services offers.
Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses.
Make sure all computer anti-virus and security software and malware protections are up to date. Use reputable anti-virus software and firewalls.
Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen. Pop-ups are regularly used by perpetrators to spread malicious software. Enable pop-up blockers to avoid accidentally clicking on a pop-up.
Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you.
Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.

How to Report

If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact your local FBI field office or submit a tip online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

When reporting a scam-regardless of dollar amount-include as many of the following details as possible:

Names of the scammer and/or company
Dates of contact
Methods of communication
Phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, and websites used by the perpetrator Methods of payment.
Where you sent funds, including wire transfers and prepaid cards (provide financial institution names, account names, and account numbers)
Descriptions of your interactions with the scammer and the instructions you were given.

You are also encouraged to keep original documentation, emails, faxes, and logs of all communications.

This information is from https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/elder-fraud

Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said, "There is nothing to be ashamed of when you don't know. The Parsons Police Department wants to protect the elderly community and all citizens from these criminals and their plots to destroy people's lives. We have had officers and family member affected by these types of crimes, so they happen, and we understand that but we what to know and try to protect you. Many of the best solutions is to just trash the email or throw away the mail. If you call, we may have information that this has been a frequent scam and can warn you before you make a mistake."

If you or someone you know have been affected by these crimes call your local police department for information of how to report these crimes to the FBI.

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