Seniors Often Targeted By Scammers (FL. USA)

Seniors Often Targeted by Scammers

By THOMAS MICHALSKI

June 4, 2009

 

More senior citizens than ever are becoming victims of scam artists, and Pinellas County is described as a “hotbed” for the worst of the perpetrators.

That was the word on May 27 from police officers and others who spoke at a senior crime seminar at the Pinellas Park Public Library.

Sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, the crime awareness forum was the idea of Rita Bott, the agency’s crime victim advocate.

“The idea is to make elder citizens aware of the dangers around them,” Bott said. “The program was geared to provide information that older people would find valuable in avoiding fraud and dealing with solicitors and others.”

Rick Stahl, an investigator with the Pinellas County Justice and Consumer Services, said people are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to con artists. The scams range from overpriced water treatment units to outright theft.

“They come into a home, test your water and always find something wrong with it,” Stahl said.

Faucet water from any city source is always safe. There generally is no need for water purifiers. 

Stahl said the most recent scam was the one for free gasoline. The perpetrators in that case are probably going to face criminal charges once the investigation is completed. Other misdeeds include programs to improve personal credit reports, mortgage fraud and bill consolidation programs.

Stahl said shady companies usually charge a fee and tell victims to stop paying their bills. They promise to negotiate a payment plan. Meanwhile, the victim’s credit is ruined and the fraudsters leave town.

“There is help available that wasn’t a few years ago,” Holmes said. “There are shelters, new legislation that protects victims, and police officers that help lead victims in the right direction.”

CASA or Community Action Stops Abuse offers a 24-hour hotline (894-4912) for help. Victims also can call the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119 for help.

There also are police victim advocates in most communities. They are in Largo at 587-6730; the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department, 582-6200; Pinellas Park, 541-0766; Clearwater, 562-4350 and St. Petersburg, 892-5128.

Abridged

SOURCE:    Tampa Bay Newspapers - Seminole,FL,USA

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