By RAY WEISS
Staff writer
July 13, 2009
The $3,520 check from Montemayor Electric in Texas looked official.
At first glance, Gloria Max figured it was a welcomed donation for the school backpack program and food bank she runs at the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties in Ormond Beach.
But something clearly was wrong.
Max made a few calls and discovered that some of the company's checks had been stolen and were being used in an "International Lotto Commission" scam. Other "winners" like her were told in an accompanying letter to pay the taxes and processing fees before they'd receive the rest of a $420,000 prize.
"It sure looked like a legitimate check. We could have used it," Max said, shaking her head. "It's unbelievable what people are doing now. It's very sad."
Local experts say that scams against older people are on the rise, often preying on dreams of riches in a time of economic collapse. The often elaborate and inventive schemes arrive by way of the mail, telephone and Internet, as well as unscrupulous neighbors and even relatives.
"There is a correlation with the economy being what it is," said Jane Parot, 80, office manager of Seniors vs. Crime, a volunteer-run advocacy program based in South Daytona. "Older people are so trusting. We grew up trusting everyone. But you just can't do that anymore."
Programs like Seniors vs. Crime, sponsored by the state Attorney General's Office, can help put pressure on a business or individual that took advantage of an unsuspecting widow or widower.
When a case cannot be resolved harmoniously, Seniors vs. Crime sometimes seeks the assistance of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida in Daytona Beach, which helps people of limited means.
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