Help on the way for senior scam victims
By Yvonne Wenger
COLUMBIA — Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is undertaking a new initiative that seeks to help seniors steer clear of scams and stand by them when they are victims.
For help
If you're a senior and have been a victim of a scam, call the Office on Aging at 1-800-868-9095 or the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-922-1594.
To get information on common scams and fraud reported in South Carolina, log on to aging.sc.gov/scams. The Web site also offers a list of partners who make up a new task force that can also help.
On the steps of the Statehouse Thursday, Bauer announced his Task Force on Senior Fraud, alongside representatives from some of the 40 agencies joining with his Office on Aging for the effort.
"We're going to be on the forefront so that when seniors are taken advantage of, someone's there," Bauer said.
The task force will help raise awareness of common scams, such as ones promising cheaper, more effective online prescriptions that turn out to be counterfeit, and help the Office on Aging serve as a clearinghouse for questions and problem-solving. The task force will be calling on partners, including law enforcement and nonprofits, to help investigate scams.
"If you're a senior citizen who has been a victim, please let us know," Bauer said. "Don't be embarrassed."
John Jenkins, senior advocate for Mount Pleasant police, said embarrassment and fear of losing independence often stop seniors from talking about people who prey on their vulnerability.
"They feel like they're not competent to handle their own affairs," Jenkins said. His job is to help residents 60 and older who are victims of crime, or just to help when they have a problem.
Jenkins recalled about six months ago when a teller at a First Federal branch noticed some unusual transactions an 80-year-old woman was making to her account. The teller called Jenkins, who saved the woman from giving about $8,000 to a scam artist promising her that she'd won the Jamaican lottery.
"To see them being taken advantage of tears up my heart," he said.
In the last year, Jenkins said, he has seen the number of scams against seniors double.
Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@ postandcourier.com.
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Beachbumwannabe (anonymous) says...
This is an excellent idea. I am glad that Andre Bauer has taken the lead in this matter.
Seniors are often THE prime target of scamers but I think seniors deserve relief from these fraudsters.
Good work Andre...
May 9, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Years ago I was doing private duty for an elderly lady with Alzheimer's. A nice looking young man came to her door saying that she had promised to write him a check for some charity. She started yelling at me to let him in, because she did promise him a check. I told him that she was not capable of making such a decision. He took off, and I called down to the front desk to alert them, but he slipped past them.
These poor people are ripped off all the time, and why their families allow them to have checkbooks or availability to cash beats the heck out of me.
Our elderly are often just like children, and they need someone to supervise them much of the time.
May 9, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
What!!! 40 ..40 AGENCIES???? WHAT A TORNADO of paper and LAWYERS!!!
Lt GOV...do think this waste of PAPER and TIME is going to STOP...low life SCAMMERS!!!!
This does not BODE well for YOU!! YOU ARE TROLLING FOR GEEZER VOTES!! You are busted!! BUCKO!!
May 9, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
RTC- I was wondering the same thing. I have a co-worker who's mother is in a home and she recently had her credit cards stolen. I asked him why did he let his mother go with the cards & he told me "It's Mom's cards."
With all the fraud going on and abuse in these homes, I would have thought my co worker used a little bit of common sense and just kept the cards on him or at home but not let his mother take them with her.
I do agree with you post as well.
May 9, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
Not all ". . . are often just like children, and they need someone to supervise them much of the time." What 'youngsters' fail to recognize is that the 'elders' grew up/were educated/had business dealings in an absolutely different world. Perhaps it's just that elders want to believe still that the majority of people are not dishonest, but that's a daggone hard lesson to learn for most of us.
Also, SC does not legally protect consumers as many, many others states do.
However, these out-and-out scams perpetrated upon anyone (happens to young people too, but they usually can financially recover except from the ARM home loans maybe--you know, like the one obtained by Berkeley County that now is going to cost us millions???) scrape the bottom of the barrel for criminals (obviously in agreement with Early).
Thanks for the task force, SC :)
May 9, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ptmama73 (anonymous) says...
So they will address the "scum" but what about the so-called "legitimate" ones like Publisher's Clearing house? Grandma keeps purchasing magazine subscriptions because they tell her it gets her closer to winning the SWEEPSTAKES.
Legally the only way we can control her money is to convince a judge to declare mentally incompetent. Then, that opens a whole different can of worms.
I hope they can develop a way to stop scammers, "publishers", and catalogs that all target elderly fixed income individuals.
May 9, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zzzmmm88 (anonymous) says...
Glad to see that our Lt. Gov has found something to do with his time..
May 9, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
There is nothing wrong with calling on these folks for money if you represent an organization who gives at least 3 percent to the charity.
May 9, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jca (anonymous) says...
wouldnt teaching people not just the older but young alike be a better method. those with problems of not remembering things like alhemiers not spelled right and dont care especially shouldnt have nay control of their money
i live by and have stopped my own mother even with the if it sounds to go to be true it is and if you have never heard of the company and they wont provide a website and other info dont give. i never give anyone ho comes to my door peddling various goods anything not even kids.
May 9, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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