Mary Woolery, an investigator with the Illinois State Police Crimes Against Seniors Program (CASP) will present an informational seminar titled “Senior Fraud Prevention” at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Elm Community Room at The Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood.
Seniors are often targets of a wide range of consumer fraud scams because scam artists view them as vulnerable and think they are relatively wealthy due to their ability to access retirement accounts and pensions.
Common senior citizen scams include:
• door-to-door sales/repairs
• health care or insurance fraud
• funeral or cemetery fraud
• counterfeit prescription drugs
• telemarketing fraud
• grandparent scheme (stranger posing as grandchild in trouble asking for money)
• reverse mortgage scams
• investment schemes
Seniors may have a desire to be helpful, and loneliness makes a senior more willing to talk with a friendly stranger. In addition, some seniors may have lost a degree of physical or mental acuity, which can make them more vulnerable to con artists.
Woolery investigates the financial exploitation of seniors and is dedicated to educating seniors about the types of scams and cons they could fall victim to, as well as how to protect themselves. She will share tips such as the importance of not carrying unnecessary cards (like Social Security) and information and to always take receipts from the ATM, restaurants, stores and gas station pumps, shred unneeded documents and use a password for bank accounts.
CASP is a special, statewide unit dedicated to fighting financial exploitation and abuse against the elderly. It was formed by former governor, Rod Blagojevich, in 2005 and is comprised of highly qualified investigators who provide a variety of services to Illinois seniors, including education, investigation and advocacy. Investigators help create a safety network for seniors through partnerships with local liaisons of senior services providers, prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies, like the Illinois Department on Aging. In addition, they see seniors through all phases of case investigation and prosecution, provide moral support and encouragement, and serve as a lifeline through the legal maze of hearings, motions, depositions, trials and appeals.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The event is open to the public and admission is free. For more information call 815-609-0669.
