| By Joan Aragone
San Mateo County Times 02/08/2009
Are you receiving unsolicited telephone calls to refinance your mortgage or offers to help with credit card debt? Are you receiving financial offers that seem too good to be true? Beware. That's the message of the Seniors Against Investment Fraud Program, operated by the California Department of Corporations. The groups's business is educating Californians 50 and older about investment and telemarketing fraud crimes and how to avoid becoming a victim. In the current economy, business is especially brisk. To alert seniors about investment fraud — such as local versions of Bernard Madoff-style Ponzi schemes — unscrupulous loan offers and other scams, senior advocate and attorney Helen Karr, of Pacifica, will speak at a free Financial Awareness class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the South San Francisco Adult School, 825 Southwood Drive. Seniors are a target population for scam artists. With lifelong saving habits, many have acquired nest eggs. They are available during the day for fraudulent telephone calls. Some are lonely and vulnerable to a "friendly" request from strangers for financial information. "More than 15 percent of U.S. (residents) are seniors but 30 percent of all fraud victims are seniors," Karr has said. She also will discuss ways to stop junk mail, obtain a free credit report, get on the "do not call" registry and report fraud to the proper authorities. Be sure to bring questions. |
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Karr, who earned her law degree at age 64, is a former member of the county and state Commissions on Aging and was chosen by former state Assemblyman Gene Mullin as the 19th Assembly District Woman of the Year for 2007. For information and registration, call the adult school at 650-877-8844.
Abridged
SOURCE: Tri Valley Herald
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