Diligence, education thwart scams: From Home Care Assistance in Essex County

Marblehead - Bernie Madoff-like Ponzi frauds, foreign-lottery-winnings ploys and work-at-home check-cashing schemes: These are just a few of the scams that have made headlines over the past year. Scams and fraudulent business practices that intend to swindle can impact anyone, including the affluent and highly educated, as well as the non-native speaking, the poor and the elderly.

In difficult economic times, scammers continually search for new ways to deceive. Recently publicized scams include individuals posing as bank officials offering to refinance mortgages or to confirm account numbers via the Internet or over the phone.

Anyone with a phone, mailbox, Internet access or front door can be a possible scam target. Scammers prey on the weakness of human nature or a specific demographic group. They understand that most people want a “great deal” or desire to be wealthier and more beautiful. Scams are often targeted to individuals with unique backgrounds and special needs, including seniors.

Scam artists steal more than money for a product or service. They steal a senior’s dignity, trust and self-esteem. Education and awareness are key components of stopping scams and protecting our loved ones.

It has been the experience of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that the elderly are targeted for fraud for several reasons:

• Seniors grew up in an era in which your word was your bond, and a handshake closed a deal. They assume that if someone seems nice, they must be trustworthy.
• These individuals were raised to be polite, especially if they are showing the time to care. Many scammers prey on their loneliness and desire for conversation.
• Seniors have money to spend. Many seniors have retirement savings, own their homes and have excellent credit ratings.
• As seniors strive for independence, they have an increased need for goods and services to maintain their homes. They make purchase decisions without the input of others.
• Perpetrators use mental or physical impairments to confuse the elderly. Scammers can give one price but demand more money after the service is completed, claiming the senior did not clearly hear or completely understand the price.
• Seniors are least likely to report a fraud since they are afraid that relatives will doubt their mental competency. They fear that they will seem foolish since they fell for a fraud.

Most common senior scams, according to the FBI:

• Health insurance (“rolling lab” schemes, medical-equipment fraud, Medicare fraud)
• Counterfeit prescription drugs (“special deals” or online purchases)
• Funeral and cemetery fraud (contracts, refund terms, embalming rules)
• Telemarketing (“get-rich-quick” schemes, travel offers, often involving prizes)
• Anti-aging products (vitamins, creams, “secret” formulas, “breakthroughs”)
• Investment schemes (advance-fee, Nigerian letter, prime bank notes)
• Internet fraud (non-delivery of items, credit- or debit-card fraud)
• Charitable fraud (non-existent charities)

Things to remember to stop scamming, from Stopseniorscams.org:

1. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. When it comes to a “now-or-never” opportunity, choose “never.”
3. Keep account numbers, codes and passwords private. Be wary of giving any information out to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call.
4. Shred bills, junk mail and receipts before discarding them.
5. Don’t be afraid to report your experiences. If you feel uncomfortable, tell someone.

If you have any questions regarding a company, contact your local Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org to check its service or complaint record. To find out your legal rights if you or a family member has been a victim of a fraud, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. A number of federal and state laws are designed to protect consumers from unethical business practices, administered by, among others, the Federal Trade Commission or the Postal Inspector.

If an individual has been victimized once, he or she becomes a more likely target for additional scams. You can take precautions to avoid a second incident, including changing the senior’s phone number and making it unlisted. The telephone company can also block all outgoing 900 numbers. In addition, a family member, caregiver or friend can assist seniors with sorting mail and identifying possible scams.

Along with fellow Marblehead resident Jay Kenney, Rosaleen Doherty opened Right at Home on the North Shore in 2002. Since then, they have served thousands of seniors throughout Essex County with home healthcare services, opening a Merrimack Valley office in 2006. Doherty is Certified Senior Advisor and is a member of the board of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, vice president of North Shore Women in Business and on the board of trustees of the Phoenix School in Salem. She can be contacted at Rdoherty@rightathomemass.com. To learn more about Right at Home, visit www.rightathomemass.net, or call 877-500-CARE (2273).