PRAIRIE GROVE -- Scam artists target older people, especially women, because they come from a generation that trusts people, is polite and believes a handshake is good enough.
"Telemarketers target you because you were born trusting and believing," said Detective William Redfern with Farmington Police Department. "It's your generation. They know you are not rude."
Redfern's tip when a call comes from a telemarketer or someone with what appears to be an unbelievable deal: Just hang up.
"They are taking advantage of your good qualities," Redfern said. "If you are 60 or older and female, it's very likely you will be a target."
Warrent Searls, an AARP volunteer, added, "We were taught to be trustworthy. We were taught to be polite."
Searls warned his audience, "Times have changed."
AARP sponsored a free workshop last week to help protect senior adults from fraud, identity theft and scams. The meeting was held in Prairie Grove District Court. About 40 people attended the workshop.
Along with Searls and Redfern, others on the panel included Lincoln police Chief Russell Morphis, Capt. Jeff O'Brien with Prairie Grove and Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder. Chief Chris Workman with Prairie Grove coordinated the panel.
Searls admitted he has been scammed, though he did not elaborate. He said he was embarrassed and stupid.
"Scammers are persistent and they are very nice," Searls said. "They are very well-trained."
All on the panel agreed that today's scam artists are smart and tech-savvy.
"They play on your sympathy and make you feel guilty," said Morphis.
He said scam artists will prey on older adults because they think they have money. And then sometimes, older adults living on a fixed income will believe the scam artists because they need the money. Many times, senior adults who are scammed will not tell anyone, especially their children, because they are embarrassed.
Those on the panel reminded older adults of several truths.
"Nobody gives you something for free, except your mom and dad," said Redfern.
"The only way to obtain things in life is to work really hard for them," O'Brien added.
They also repeated the adage, "If it's too good to be true, then it probably is."
O'Brien added his own tip, "When the police say it's a scam, it's a scam."
He told about a case in Prairie Grove where a woman received a call and was convinced she had won a BMW vehicle. All she had to do was to pay the transportation cost and the company would send her the car. Forty thousand dollars later, the woman had sold her own vehicle and was out of money.
O'Brien said police were called in by the family and officers tried to convince the woman it was a scam but she would not believe them.
Officers told the audience not to give out credit card numbers, social security numbers or any other personal information to strangers. Change passwords frequently and use passwords that are difficult to dicipher.
Senior adults should not carry their Medicare cards with them and should have family members they can go to for sound advice. They also advised senior adults to be aware of their finances and to check their credit card statements and bank accounts each month.
Anyone who becomes aware of a scam or identity theft should contact law enforcement immediately and initiate a fraud alert with the Federal Trade Commission. The website, consumer.ftc.gov gives information on scams and identity thefts.
Helder said most scams come from outside the United States, such as Jamaica, so investigations and prosecution are almost impossible.
"They are committed by people we will never catch," Helder said.
Helder's advice to senior adults: "If you don't recognize the number, don't answer the phone. You don't have to answer the door. You worked hard for what you got, keep it."
Searls pointed out that people have to protect themselves by being diligent and informed.
"Only one person in this room can protect you from scammers," Searls said. "You. You have to take the initiative. This is an epidemic. Economic times are tough and that brings out a lot of bad guys."
General News on 09/24/2014