May 26, 2009
By PAUL LAROCCO
The Press-Enterprise
Dave Cruz and Ron Hall have tailored crime-prevention programs for apartment managers, motel owners and business leaders.
But for the past five months, the two San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies have traveled from the High Desert to the West Valley with senior citizens in mind.
"They have that tendency to be trustworthy of people," Cruz said. "They want to see the good, not the bad."
"And the criminals know that," Hall added.
The partners in the sheriff's public affairs division are still fine-tuning their "Crime Free Senior Living" road show, using an overhead projector and folksy banter to supply tips on identity theft, telemarketing scams and real-estate fraud.
As they grow the program -- last week's presentation at a Rancho Cucamonga senior apartment complex was only the seventh -- Cruz and Hall are joining the officials taking increased notice of elder crimes.
May is national Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and with it has come presentations in Riverside County, including Assemblyman Brian Nestande's "Senior Scam Stopper" town hall event and one sponsored by county Supervisor Bob Buster's office.
"Given what the economy is, the crooks are out in full force," said Ed Walsh, director of Riverside County's Office on Aging. "Seniors are particularly vulnerable."
Those involved in preventing scams on the elderly say that among the most prevalent are those targeting the homebound who live alone. With one phone call, a smooth-talking perpetrator can obtain a senior's most precious identifying information and financial account numbers.
"We try to give them permission to be rude," said Margo Hamilton, regional manager for the Riverside County Department of Social Services' CARE Team. "We encourage it, actually."
Hamilton said that CARE -- which works in both senior crime prevention and provides assistance to victims -- advises its clients to get everything in writing when curious about a telemarketing call.
Vicky Virgilio, the CARE community programs specialist stationed in Moreno Valley, said one of her goals is letting seniors know it's OK to admit they let their guard down once in a while.
"We know there's a shame factor in reporting these things," Virgilio said. "But we want the community to know what's out there."
Reach Paul LaRocco at 951-368-9468 or plarocco@PE.com
Reporting Scams Against Seniors
Federal Trade Commission Hotline: 877-438-4338
Riverside County Fraud Hotline: 800-344-8477
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