Senior Life: How to look out for scams
- Sally Kelly
I recently received our monthly “AARP Bulletin” and, as always, it was filled with a wealth of information on the national perspective on aging. One of the articles caught my attention, and I decided to bring it back to our local concerns and reality.
The AARP article reported that “according to the FBI, nearly $4.9 billion was stolen from Older Americans last year from instances of fraud. This was an average loss of $83,000, a 43% increase from last year. Investment scams took the largest financial hit on victims 60 and older with more than $1.8 billion in total reported losses.”
What if we look at scams and fraud from our own personal perspective. Who is monitoring our checkbooks, or who has control of our bills, especially our insurance premiums?
None of us want to think about our family members or close friends scamming us out of our possessions or money. But unfortunately, it happens!
In the state of Ohio, this type of fraud or scam when it involves older Americans is referred to as elder abuse. Elder abuse does not only refer to physical abuse and neglect but also to exploitation. Exploitation is defined when a person steals, misuses or conceals a vulnerable adult’s funds, property or assets.
A booklet from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services describes the signs of exploitation as:
- Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives who claim rights to the vulnerable adult’s affairs and possessions.
- Unexplained, sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family.
- Forgery of an elder person’s signature for financial transactions or for the titles of his/her possessions.
- Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions.
Is this happening to you or to a friend? Be honest with yourself, and take the step to ask for help from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services 330-296-2273.
There are some professionals who are required by law to report elder abuse (exploitation) to the authorities, which in our county is Portage County Job and Family Services. They are required by law to conduct an investigation (30 to 45 days on average) and assist in helping to resolve the issue.
Job and Family Services also has a hotline for reporting elder abuse and neglect; you can call 24 hours a day if you are concerned for yourself, or a friend or relative. This department is called Adult Protective Services and can be reached at 330-296-2273.
Do not be concerned about “sticking your nose in someone else’s business.” We live in a community where we should all take some interest in the lives of others. Too many of us live alone and do not have family members close enough to check in on us. We may need to have someone check on us, so be “nosy!”
How big a toll is all this 90-degree weather having on you? And your electric bill?
Do not forget about the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which, if you qualify financially, can help you pay your electric bill. This program is called the Summer Crisis Cooling Program and operates from July 1 to Aug. 31. To be eligible, an applicant’s household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines ($21,857 for a one-person household).
To file for assistance, you must have an electric bill in a household member’s name and be older than 60 years. If a member of the household is disabled, a letter from an attending physician also may make a household eligible. A disconnection notice is not necessary.
This program is funded through the state of Ohio and your tax dollars! Do not be shy about applying for assistance – these are your tax dollars at work.
Call the Portage County Community Action Council at 330-297-1456 for an appointment. Do not forget to take copies of your electric bills and proof of income for all household members with you to your appointment.
Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip65@yahoo.com.
Sally Kelly