Senior News July, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  7

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Vintage A's: Model A club members enjoy more than an era and a car

Scam Warning

July's Theme: Vacationing at home

Benbow on the Eel River: Celebrate Shakespeare

Mendocino coast: Just a hop and a skip away to gorgeous vistas, fun

New ad sales rep joins Senior News team

Pick up a copy today! Better yet, subscribe and never miss an issue!

Scam Warning

A spate of current scams are circulating in our area, according to Suzie Owsley, Eureka Police Department Public Information officer.

Purse snatching
Unattended purses in shopping carts are a crime of opportunity for purse thieves. Four reports came in to Eureka police from shoppers at Canned Foods and Winco in June.

Owsley said each time the shopper placed her purse in the grocery cart but turned away for a moment, the purses were gone. "Make sure all purse compartments are snapped or zipped and wrap the purse strap around the cart handle. Do not leave your purse unattended."

Senior Benefits
One senior said she was called by a representative of the Senior Benefit Resource Center (a name too easily confused with the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, publisher of Senior News).

The company wanted to set up an appointment for the senior so that a rep could talk to her in her home about living wills and trusts. She made an appointment but wanted to cancel it and hadn't been given a phone number to contact the caller.

The woman called the Eureka Crime Prevention Unit and learned that there was no business license in either the name of the company or the representative and learned further that anyone making appointments with people in their homes needs to have clearance with the Eureka Police Department, 441-4100 (ask for business licenses).

Readers Digest
A citizen reported a phone scam involving the Readers Digest Sweepstakes. The man told her she had won a $50,000 sweepstakes which she could claim by wiring $195 to cover state taxes to a person in Florida.

"It is important not to mail or wire funds to anyone regarding sweepstakes," Owsley said. "With any legitimate sweepstakes or contest, taxes are not paid to the company before the prize can be claimed. Do not give any personal information over the phone. Be cautious anytime you are asked to pay up front or send the funds immediately."

Local bank
Another local scam occurred when a resident said a man called saying he was a representative from a local bank calling to inform the resident that his bank account was overdrawn. Thinking the call was a scam, the resident hung up immediately. But seconds later another call came in from someone stating he was the supervisor of the original caller. The resident hung up on this caller as well.

"Citizens need to remember that any bank representative making contact would not ask the client for bank account information over the phone," Owsley said. If other residents receive calls like this one, they should inform their banks.

Be careful if
- you are offered a discount only if you pay some money immediately.
- you are not told the final total cost of services, including fees.

Notice if
- you are being given advice from an attorney or someone else.
- the caller has given a local business license and a telephone number to call them back.

Remember that you have three days to cancel a purchase.

"Bottom line," Owsley said, "if you didn't initiate the phone call, don't give any personal information over the phone. It's that simple."

Suzie Owsley and the Eureka Police Crime Prevention Unit can be reached at 707-441-4321 if you suspect a scam or want to check on one.