John W Green is a retired Commissioner from the Los Angeles Superior Court. Previously, he worked as a deputy district attorney, did civil litigation, and was an in-house counsel for State Farm insurance. He graduated from Stanford University, served in the Peace Corps in Thailand, and graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law. He works for the Center for Effective Dispute Resolution Services in Los Angeles, and is a member of the LA5 Rotary Club.

 

 

To support his presentation, he passed out brochures on how to help seniors avoid financial fraud, developed by LA County Dist Atty Jackie Lacey, whose mother was a fraud victim. The best way to stop fraud is by educating seniors and their family members and following basic rules for self-protection. If you or a senior you know has been a fraud victim, contact local law enforcement or the LA County Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-877-4-R-SENIORS. Contacts and resources are at DA.LACounty.gov/seniors.

 

An Elder is legally defined as age 65 or above. 70% of the wealth in the US belongs to seniors, but they are often vulnerable targets due to isolation, naivety or mental impairment, and were taught to be polite and trusting. Elder abuse can be financial as well as physical abuse or neglect.

 

Con artists may go door-to-door with home-repair scams, investment schemes, phony charity donations, or posing as a utility representative at the front door while a colleague breaks into the back of the residence. They also contact people by phone or email. They may use friendly chatter or drop the name of a familiar acquaintance, or use high-pressure tactics to obtain Social Security numbers and other personal and financial information. Some pretend to be police officers or government employees. Some may pretend a romantic interest and even marry the victim, in order to gain control over financial accounts. In some cases, family members take control of a senior’s finances for their own personal gain. The grandchild scam involves posing as a government authority in another country stating the victim’s grandchild (whose name they present) is in trouble and urgently needs several thousand dollars to get out of jail, with a warning not to contact police.

 

Protection tips include not sending money to strangers (even if claiming to be police or officials), not sharing identifying information or financial account information, not opening the door to strangers regardless of whom they claim to be, using peepholes or intercoms identify visitors, calling police if a stranger lingers, screening calls by answering machine or caller ID, hanging up when you don’t know the caller, and never buying anything by phone unless you initiated the call. Never open emails from unknown senders (who may hack into personal information). Shred financial, insurance, medical and tax records (which thieves could dig out from the trash). Verify identities of strangers before making donations or business transactions. Avoid deals that sound too good to be true.

 

Family and friends should watch for suspicious activities concerning older adults, such as unexpected financial withdrawals or new names added to accounts, sudden fear or confusion, unpaid essential bills, a caregiver not allowing family access to the senior, and accumulation of sweepstakes mailings, subscriptions or free gifts (indications of previous victimization).