Elder Abuse –Scam/Fraud (USA)

Sep 13, 2011


Recently, the Ventura Police Department (VPD) took a report of an incident involving an elderly female who had been scammed out of nearly $6,000 by an individual offering to help repair her vehicle.


On August 31, 2011, at approximately 11:15 a.m., the suspect made contact with the victim at her residence and told her he could repair her damaged vehicle. After gaining the victim's trust the suspect drove the victim to her bank where approximately $6,000 was withdrawn and given to the suspect.


While en-route back to the victim's residence the suspect asked to be dropped off at a nearby shopping mall and told the victim he would meet her back at her residence. The victim then drove home and awaited the arrival of the suspect however, the suspect never returned.


During the investigation it was learned that another individual who lives in the same mobile home park had also been visited by the suspect earlier in the day with a very similar story however, the individual did not fall for the scam.


We are issuing this press release in the event anyone may have information about the incident and also to advise community members to be aware of incidents and potential fraudulent scams such as these.


We want to remind the community:


-Please be vigilant and immediately report any and all suspicious activity to VPD at             805-650-8010 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            805-650-8010      end_of_the_skype_highlighting       (24 hr. non-emergency number) or 911 in the event of an emergency.


-Report suspicious subjects knocking at your front door and all solicitors and individuals that appear, or act, suspicious in nature.


-Never let anyone into your home who you do not know or trust.


Scams such as these often prey upon the elderly in order to gain their trust. Please take the time to speak with your elderly parents, friends, and neighbors about scams and frauds and to never provide personal information, or money, to individuals they do not know or trust.

SOURCE:     The Ventura
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Elderly Abuse on the Rise in South Florida (USA)

Elderly abuse on the rise in South Florida

By Jerome Burdi, Sun Sentinel

September 5, 2011

Elderly abuse in South Florida is on the rise, and advocates and the state Department of Children & Families are asking the community to help address the problem.

A year ago, Broward and Palm Beach counties recorded some of their lowest abuse numbers in years, according to state statistics. But the latest numbers show statistics headed in the other direction.

From July 2010 through June, Broward County had 5,193 cases of elderly abuse, up from 4,668 the previous year. In Palm Beach County, there were 3,957 cases from 2010 to 2011, up from 3,516 the year before, according to state statistics.

Many of the cases come from self neglect, because the person is poor and may have mental-health issues, officials said.

"You have to care enough just to call," DCF spokesman Mark Riordan said. "Say, 'I think this person may need help' for whatever you're [seeing] to indicate they're starting to not care about themselves."

Noticing an elderly neighbor's overgrown lawn or unkempt home are tell-tale signs of abuse or neglect, officials said.

Cases of exploitation of the elderly by a care worker also are a major issue, authorities said.

"The only people [who can exploit the elderly] at that kind of level are people who do have your trust," Riordan said. "We hope the people we trust would not do that."

In August 2010, Greenacres police said, an elderly couple's caregiver used their checkbook to steal $141,228.

The unidentified woman, whose 82-year-old husband suffered from Alzheimer's disease, contacted authorities. She told detectives she was "perplexed as to where her money was going."

Police linked the money back to the caregiver, Mary Gayle Tomasheski, 56, of The Acreage, who was charged with 177 counts each of forgery and fraud.

Tomasheski is scheduled for trial Oct. 17.

In March 2010 in Hollywood, police accused a financial planner and his stockbroker wife with tricking a pair of elderly sisters out of more than $100,000 and setting themselves up to inherit even more.

The victims, police said, were Josephine Troisi and Mary Teris — then 93 and 95, respectively — both of whom lacked the capacity to make sound decisions, police said.

Tyrone Javellana, 46, and his wife, Cynthia Franke, 50, befriended the sisters and began acting as their advisers, police said. The investigation uncovered transfers from the sisters to the couple ranging from $400 to $32,000, investigators said.

Troisi's son, John, uncovered the apparent crime by keeping a careful eye on his mother's finances, police said.

Javellana and Franke were charged with exploiting the elderly in an amount over $100,000. Their case is still pending in court.

Late last year, DCF introduced a program utilizing 12 court-appointed "elderly guardians" for Palm Beach and Broward counties. The guardians are responsible for looking after an elderly person when he or she has no family available to do it.

"A certain percentage of people lack [mental] capacity and don't understand the consequences of what they're doing," said Emilio Maicas, DCF regional director for Adult Protective Services. "People have reached a point where they simply can't do it anymore."

Issues of neglect or abuse also may crop up when a family is in financial straights, advocates said.

"People need not be embarrassed and not feel alone," said Mary Jones, project director with the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach County. "It's something that's OK to ask for help with. You're not a bad person by asking for help."

Another way to help save elders from abuse comes in a word — respect, said Edith Lederberg, executive director of the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County.

"Abuse may come because of lack of respect for elders," she said. "Years ago if someone spoke back to their grandparent [there was trouble]. Respect for your elders went out the window a long time ago."

To report elderly abuse, call the DCF hotline,             800-962-2873 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            800-962-2873      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      . For resources, call Broward County's elder help line,             954-745-9779 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            954-745-9779      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      , or Palm Beach County's help line,             866-684-5885 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-684-5885      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      .

Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.


SOURCE:     The Sun-Sentinel
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Neglecting Elderly Isn't Partisan Issue - It's Moral One

Neglecting elderly isn't partisan issue — it's moral one

By Scott Maxwell

September 3, 2011

All year, I've been writing about troubling developments when it comes to elderly care in this state.

Cases of neglect, abuse — even death — are on the rise. And Florida politicians are making things even worse, muzzling the watchdogs who report abuse and making it easier for profit-making facilities to skimp on care.

Many of you have expressed outrage.

Well, now the feds are getting involved.

Last week, the U.S. Administration on Aging released an investigative report that determined Florida was "non-compliant" in several elements of Florida's Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

In layman's terms, that means Florida isn't meeting this country's basic standards for protecting and caring for elderly residents.

That's disgraceful.

Elderly care and neglect isn't a partisan issue. It's a moral one.

No patient should miss medication, dine among roaches or go unwashed. Yet we've seen all of that.

There have also been preventable deaths — everything from a 71-year-old with schizophrenia who died of bathtub burns to a 75-year-old Episcopal priest with dementia whose alligator-ravaged body was found in a lake.

The scenarios should be enough to alarm anyone with a parent … or a soul.

Even more troubling than Florida's existing problems is that some want to make things worse.

The troubles that prompted federal officials to investigate started shortly after Rick Scott was sworn in as governor — and he ousted the state's elder-care ombudsman, Brian Lee.

Lee ran a program that was a success by most any measure.

It was primarily volunteers — 400 watchdogs who looked for problems at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. And the Floridians who asked for their help reported 98 percent satisfaction. (Try finding another government agency with a satisfaction rate that high.)

The program also was cheap and effective. Last year, it conducted a record-high 9,000 investigations. And because volunteers were doing most of the work, the agency operated on a shoestring budget: $2.3 million. (By comparison, Gov. Scott requested $600 million in the budget for his executive office alone.)

The agency didn't have all the powers and teeth that many people wanted. But when it got involved, it got results — for pennies on the taxpayers' dollar.

The problem for Lee was that the industries he regulated didn't care for him. He and his staff were too nosy and vigilant.

Scott's administration ousted him.


SOURCE:     The Orlando Sentinel
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Gov. Brown Gets Elder Protection Bill (USA)

Brown gets elder protection bill

By Sigourney B. Nunez, Staff Writer

09/02/2011

When Liz Sanders discovered her mother was fleeced of her life savings two years ago, the Woodland Hills woman was motivated to get justice for more than just her family.

She wanted to stop the same thing from happening to others. It took a lot of phone calls to a lot of politicians, but this week Sanders saw her efforts come to fruition, with the state Legislature passing a bill to crack down on the kind of elderly abuse and fraud that victimized her mother.

Senate Bill 586 by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, will double the penalties for elder and dependent adult abuse. It would also impose new regulations for the issuance of signature stamps by a state-organized bank or credit unions.

Sanders said she hopes her effort will protect seniors from being taken advantage of as her mother was.

"If you don't have the absolute tenacity of a pit bull, you're not going to get anywhere," she said. "I need to get this done."

Sanders' mother, Bette Isenberg of Westwood, was bedridden for multiple health issues in 2009. The elderly woman needed constant medical attention and depended on her in-home care giver, Helen Wofford, to watch after her.

But Wofford ended up siphoning more than $750,000 from Isenberg's savings and assets, running up tens of thousands of dollars with Isenberg's department store credit cards and buying herself a Mercedes.

By May 2010, Wofford pleaded guilty to grand theft and was sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Sanders said the caregiver was able to drain her mother's accounts by using a signature stamp. Banks issue signature stamps to elderly or disabled adults who are unable to physically sign forms or get into a banking branch.

"With a stamp in the wrong hands, you can end up wiped out," Sanders said.

After her mother died in August 2010, Sanders decided to help change the law so other families could be protected from signature stamp abuse.

"I basically called everybody from Obama down," she said. "I'm one person, one voice and I'm screaming here."

Pavley heard her.

"The physical and financial abuse of elder and dependent adults is an insidious and growing problem in California," Pavley said in a statement. "When Ms. Sanders called my office and explained what happened to her mother, it just made sense to pursue legislation."

Pavley's bill was sponsored by AARP and the California Senior Legislature. The Senate passed it Tuesday on a 25-13 vote, sending it to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk. The Governor's Office said he has not decided yet whether to sign it.

"Elder abuse is prevalent and caretakers are one of the common suspected abusers," said Gina Satriano, deputy in charge of the elder abuse section of the Los Angeles County District's Attorney's Office.

"We are hopeful that (the bill) will help protect elders as well as protect them from abuse by having regulations. And if abusers are able to get around the regulations, hopefully there will be more scrutiny."

SOURCE:    The Contra Costa Times
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Daughter Charged in Abuse of Mother, 80 (USA)

Daughter charged in abuse of mother, 80

By George Mathis 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The daughter of an 80-year-old woman faces charges of elder abuse, Marietta police said Thursday.

Melissa Blue, 49, was arrested after police responded to an injured person call at a Howard Johnson Inn in the 2300 block of Delk Road. While there, officers discovered Melissa Blue's bed-ridden mother, Evelyn, who exhibited signs of neglect.

Evelyn Blue, who had lived at the hotel with her daughter for almost a year, was hospitalized.

Anyone with information concerning the case is asked to call Marietta police detectives at            770-794-5372 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            770-794-5372      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      




SOURCE:   The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Real Estate Agent Charged in Scheme (USA)

Real estate agent charged in scheme

By Tracy Manzer, Staff Writer

08/30/2011

SEAL BEACH —

A Seal Beach real estate agent has been charged with 34 felony counts in connection with a scheme that saw victims buy into a fake investment pool to the tune of nearly $300,000, police announced Tuesday.

The Seal Beach Police Department launched its investigation into John Wesley Martynec, the sole owner of Samax Real Estate in Seal Beach, in December after several victims came forward, Sgt. Steve Bowles said.

The victims were told their money would be pooled and used to purchase homes in Los Angeles County that were in foreclosure.

Those properties would then be renovated and resold at a profit and the investors would receive their earnings from the venture within six months of the initial investment, the victims told investigators.

Martynec sent the victims updates via email along with property deeds for homes located throughout L.A. County. He claimed he was using the profits from each sold property to purchase additional properties, Bowles said.

As soon as the victims asked that their money be returned as originally agreed upon, Martynec stopped returning phone calls or emails, the sergeant said.

The ensuing investigation revealed Martynec purchased one property, for $292,000, and that property was eventually seized in foreclosure.

"The properties Martynec had listed on the victims' investment statements were real; however neither he nor his company ever owned any of them," Bowles said.

The property deeds sent to the victims were later found to be fraudulent, the sergeant said.

The Orange County District Attorney's office filed 34 felony counts against Martynec, including multiple counts of grand theft, elder abuse (based on theft from an elderly investor) and other violations.

A $150,000 arrest warrant was issued for Martynec on July 12 and he was taken into custody on Aug. 11, Bowles said.

He has since posted bond and is awaiting trial.

Martynec's LinkedIn profile lists his specialties as real estate investments, asset management, portfolio management and fundraising, and it says he is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach.

He lists his previous experience as operations director/

sales manager at JTR Real Estate Inc., operations director/director of sales at Results Mortgage Inc. and investment manager at Shoreline Properties LLC.

Other Web profiles list him as a real estate agent in Long Beach and Huntington Beach.

Martynec could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

SOURCE:     The Press Telegram
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How to Prevent Elder Abuse

How to prevent elder abuse

By ROBERT BOYER | Highlands Today

August 31, 2011

There are a number of steps elderly Floridians and those who care about them can take to avoid becoming victims of abuse, scams, identity theft and financial exploitation, according to information from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Two recent local cases of alleged physical abuse involving an 87-year-old woman and a physically and mentally disabled man at a 24-hour care facility are stark reminders that seniors are vulnerable to harm.

When it comes to identity theft, Elder Affairs officials say seniors should never:

•Carry a Social Security card or multiple credit cards.

•Give personal information over the telephone.

•Print identification numbers on checks.

•Answer unsolicited emails that ask for your personal information.

Seniors should always:

•Remove mail promptly from mailboxes and promptly review statements and bills.

•Shred or cut up personal mail.

•Stop mail before going on vacation.

•Make a copy of all the items in your wallet and keep them with personal papers in a safe place.

•Shop online only with merchants with secure websites. Typically, a lock symbol in the bottom-right corner of a web browser will signal that a site is secure.

•Print checks with initials only and no street address and pick them up at the bank, if possible.

Seniors who are victims of financial crime should report it "to local law enforcement and request a copy of the case report," the Elder Affairs website states.

Contact credit card companies and place fraud alerts on all accounts by calling Equifax at             (800) 525-6285      ; Experian at            (888)397-3742 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (888)397-3742      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      ; and TransUnion at             (800) 680-7729      .

Victims also should report such crimes to the Federal Trade Commission at             1-877-438-4338 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-877-438-4338      end_of_the_skype_highlighting       and "immediately contact your bank and close affected accounts." In addition, keep a detailed account of parties you have contacted and save all correspondence.

* * * * *

To avoid being financially exploited, the elderly should have check payments made through direct deposit and never "sign blank checks allowing another person to fill in the amount," the website recommends.

Don't leave money or valuables, and never sign anything you don't understand.

Protect you money by working with your bank to "control who has access to your funds."

Seniors should be aware of possible scams, especially offers from telemarketers.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Elder Affairs officials say. "Be cautious and do not let any caller intimidate you. Don't be afraid to hang up."

Never give anyone your ATM access code, and cancel your ATM card immediately if it is stolen.

Check bank statements to ensure there have been no unauthorized withdrawals, and be cautious regarding joint accounts, given that both parties are equal owners of such accounts.

In addition, build good relationships with financial professionals "who handle your money."

* * * * *

Seniors should take care when it comes to transactions involving home repair, officials say.

Always compare estimates carefully and remember the lowest bid or price is not always the best deal.

"Never agree to get your own permits; this will make you directly responsible for everything," officials warn.

Don't let anyone pressure you into making hasty decisions and don't accept an offer "to take you to the bank to withdraw money for any reason."

"Never fall for phone or door-to-door offers of free estimates, home inspections or 'special deals' of any kind" and "never pay cash," officials add.

In addition, don't pay for unfinished work "or jobs that have not been inspected."

* * * * *

"No one has the right to hit you, to treat you like a child or to humiliate you," the Elder Affairs website states.

Abuse of the elderly and disabled is a rare but persistent problem in Highlands County, says Laurie Murphy, the resource development director at NU-HOPE Elder Care Services Inc., a Sebring nonprofit that advocates for those 60 and older in Highlands and Hardee counties.

But "any occurrence is too much, and … we need to be aware of it," Murphy said.

Physical signs of abuse can include cuts, puncture wounds, burns, bruises, welts, dehydration or malnutrition, poor coloration, soiled clothing or bedclothes, or the lack of food, water, utilities and other necessities.

Abused seniors also may display behavioral signs of abuse like fear, anxiety, agitation, anger, isolation, withdrawal, depression, non-responsiveness, resignation, ambivalence, contradictory statements and implausible stories.

Seniors also might hesitate to talk openly about being abused and be confused or disoriented.

Those who suspect any kind of abuse should call the 24-hour Elder Affairs elder abuse hotline at             (800) 962-2873       and report their suspicions.

SOURCE:    Tampa Online
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Police Warn Online Scammers Target Elderly People (AUSTRALIA)

Police warn online scammers target elderly people

By Kim Lyell

August 30, 2011

Police say online and telephone scammers are targeting senior citizens because they are accessible and hold a large portion of Australia's wealth.

Officers say a two-day conference that begins in Brisbane today, 'Protecting Seniors from Modern Threats', will discuss the devastating impact of scamming on elderly people.

Police say financial crimes against seniors such as online and telephone scams costs the Australian economy millions of dollars each month.

They say Australians are still sending $10 million a month to the Nigerian and Guyana scams, with the majority of victims are elderly.

Fraud squad Detective Superintendent Brian Hay says the Australian-first conference will look at ways to protect seniors from modern threats.

"Catching the crook is not the best form of protection - it's actually providing our communities with the information they need to protect themselves," he said.

"All these crimes can be prevented.

"What we want to focus on is how we make Australia such an informed and aware community so the crooks will go somewhere else because it's too hard to find a victim in our country."

Superintendent Hay says the elderly are often too embarrassed to admit they have been ripped off.

"They're reluctant to come forward and even put their hand up to the fact that they've lost all this money, so they suffer in silence," he said.

"We see constant scenarios of breakdowns in relationships, families, long-life friends, being separated, bankruptcy, businesses being lost, depression, thoughts of suicide - it's a really sad story," he said.

SOURCE:    ABC.NET.AU
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Elder Abuse Bill Sparked by L.A. Victim Headed to Governor (LA. USA)

Elder Abuse Bill Sparked by L.A. Victim Headed to Governor

Bill  by Sen. Pavley would add protections and increase penalties.

August 30, 2011

SACRAMENTO –

Nine months ago, Liz Sanders of Woodland Hills had never been to the State Capitol. She had no idea who her state senator was, or what it might take to enact legislation. What she did know was that she had to do something to protect other families from the abuse that devastated her family. “My mother was preyed upon by her in-home caregiver. She was fleeced out of her life savings,” said Sanders. “I knew I had to do something to prevent another family from suffering this kind of heartbreak, but I didn’t know where to begin.” 

Sanders said she started calling lawmakers. “And Senator Pavley was the only one who listened to me and decided to take action.” Now, due in large part to Liz’s passion and tenacity, Senator Pavley’s bill that aims to crack down on elder abuse is headed to the governor’s desk.

“The physical and financial abuse of elder and dependent adults is an insidious and growing problem in California,” said Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills). “When Ms. Sanders called my office and explained what happened to her mother, it just made sense to pursue legislation.”

Sanders has flown to Sacramento several times to testify in support of Pavley’s SB 586, which passed the Senate today. The bill would double penalties for elder and dependent adult abuse and would impose new regulations for the issuance of so called “signature stamps.”

“A $20 signature stamp cost my mother three-quarters of a million dollars and left her in financial ruin,” said Sanders. “It simply shouldn’t be this easy.”

Banks issue signature stamps to elderly or disabled adults who are unable to physically get into a banking branch. Senator Pavley’s SB 586 would create a new framework for the issuance of these signature stamps, including requiring that a bank employee witness and sign all requests for new signature stamps. Banks would also be required to give customers information on the risks associated with the loss or misuse of the stamps. Pavley’s bill would also double the penalties for physical and financial elder abuse. The increase in fines would be allocated to Adult Protective Services in the county where the abuse occurred.

“I’m hopeful Governor Brown will sign this important piece of legislation,” said Senator Pavley. “This bill establishes some basic and common sense protections of one particular financial instrument that can be easily used to drain vast sums of money and assets.”

Abridged
SOURCE:     StudioCity.Patch






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Elder Abuse Lawsuit: Woman Accuses Nursing Home Of Unnecessary Drugging (USA)

Elder Abuse Lawsuit: Woman Accuses Nursing Home Of Unnecessary Drugging In Order To Take Over Social Security Payments

By:  Jonathan Rosenfeld - Nursing Home Abuse

Very disturbing allegations have surfaced in a nursing home negligence lawsuit filed against a California nursing home by a former patient at the facility. Marsha Davis has filed a lawsuit against Country Villa of Seal Beach alleging that the facility improperly gave her psychotropic medications (Ativan) without a prescription in order to take over her social security payments.

If proved to be true, this is undoubtedly a form of elder abuse both in terms of the inappropriate drugging as well as the misappropriation of the woman's finances.

According to Medicare regulations applicable to nursing homes: each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs and define what is considered an unnecessary drug. An unnecessary drug is any drug used...

Please go to SOURCE for more information.

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