The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Local news

Help become scam-proof

Elder fraud can cause damages into the thousands of dollars and leave those who once were financially sound in shambles.
To help prevent this, residents can look for several warning signs and take steps to become scam-proof.
The first warning sign, said Garfield County Sheriff Bill Winchester, is if someone approaches or calls your home unsolicited.
“Another good rule to follow is if they are not local, then don’t do business with them,” Winchester said. “They usually won’t stay long if you tell them you are going to check with a family member or the sheriff’s office about what they are doing,”
According to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, you should never disclose personal information to strangers or let them into your home. You also should never pay in advance to any unknown contractor or salesman. Becoming scam-proof requires a resident to never let greed overcome common sense, and to avoid get-rich-quick schemes and other “free” offers. The pamphlet notes, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it is.
Con artists easily can make professional-looking credentials and marketing material. High-pressure sales techniques are a warning sign one is being scammed, as are salesmen needing quick decisions, no-risk, high-yield investments, cash-only demands and delayed delivery for products and services.
Mark Pettus, Enid Police Department detective, said you always should ask why a salesman is requesting your personal information.
“Unless you know someone personally, just don’t deal with them,” Pettus said. “It’s a little safer if you call them.”
According to Legal Aid, many people don’t realize how severe con artists are. Those who are scammed usually are embarrassed and don’t want to report the crime and feel like they will learn from the experience. Con artists typically will continue to victimize those who they previously have scammed.

Related Photos

  • (Photo Illustration by BONNIE VCULEK)

    Elder_Fraud_1_BV.jpg

Discussion

August 6, 2011

Elder fraud becoming more common

By Austin Prickett, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — What do home repairs, sweepstakes, telemarketers and offers of money from foreign dignitaries have in common? They all are common tactics used by con artists to defraud the elderly.

Elder fraud has become increasingly common as con artists take advantage of the trusting nature and old age of others. Garfield County Sheriff Bill Winchester said he works about 50 cases of elder fraud per year.

“With the elderly, it is all about pressuring them into giving up the money,” Winchester said. “In some cases they will come to your house, climb on the roof and tell you it needs to be sealed. A lot of people will just pay them because they are intimidated.”

Con artists use many ways to look professional and earn the trust of those they are scamming. According to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, some common scams are cleanup efforts, repairs to heating and cooling equipment or automobiles, telemarketers seeking personal information, “breakthrough” products claiming to cure diseases, phony charities, opportunities to earn money working at home and claims of being a foreign dignitary.

Enid Police Department De-tective Mark Pettus works many of the local cases involving elder fraud.

“The biggest thing people need to remember is that no one gives something for free,” Pettus said.

Pettus said an Enid woman recently was contacted and told she won a sweepstakes. The next day she was contacted again and told the money was tied up in customs and she needed to pay $2,800 to clear it.

“People hardly ever win sweepstakes,” Pettus said.

Garfield County Sheriffs Office and Enid Police Department representatives said they don’t always get enough information to charge those suspected of elder fraud. Pettus said fraud cases get reported weekly in his department.

“Some cases are reported while others can protect themselves because they know what to look for,” Pettus said. “In the past couple of months there hasn’t been as many as in the past. It seems more and more people are starting to figure it out or they are just too embarrassed to report it.”

According to an FBI report on common fraud schemes, senior citizens are targeted because they are more apt to have good credit, own a home, have memory loss and not realize they have been scammed. Pettus said the elderly are more in line to do whatever it takes to stay financially secure.

“Scam and fraud like this didn’t happen as often years ago. But now, it happens a lot,” Pettus said.

If you or someone you know has been contacted by a con artist or has been scammed, you can report the incident to Enid Police Department, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office or Adult Protective Services.

Text Only
Local news