District attorney talks to realtors about crimes against the elderly
By Rose Meily
for the Los Gatos Weekly-Times
12/23/2008
Deputy District Attorney Kim Connors, a guest speaker at a recent Realtor tour meeting, told members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors that financial crimes against the elderly are becoming more widespread, and the only way to prevent these scams from happening is to always keep informed and warn everybody you know about them.
Examples of financial crimes include forgery, lying to get your money (e.g., "My child is dying of cancer and needs surgery"); deceiving you into signing any document (e.g., quit claim, grant deed, will); improper use of conservatorship, guardianship or power of attorney; and cold calls.
"Scam artists try to get you when you are in your safe zone — at home or at work," Connors said. "Always be on guard. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is."
Connors urged Realtors to share their knowledge and expertise about all the different scams they hear about or read about in the newspaper with their parents, grandparents and elderly clients.
"Prevention is still the best medicine," she said. "Prosecution seldom makes the victim whole."Other prevention tips she gave include: lock mailboxes; scrutinize credit reports; screen calls; always get a second opinion when someone presents a financial proposal; only return calls to known numbers; and watch the news.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Mercury News
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