PRC'GRESS-TIMES
E:UPORA. MS
C~rculatlonz2005
WEEKLY
11/27/2008
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Caution gives seniors protection from fraud
By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag
Commdcaliom
Senior citizens are
more likely than people
in other age groups t i
report fraud, but they
remain attractive tar-
gets because of life situ-
ations that scam artists
can exploit.
'Seniors generally are
no more at risk of being
defrauded than the rest
of the population," said
Grant Hedgepeth, direc-
tor of the Consumer
Protection Division for
the stat&ffice of the
Attorney General.
'Peoprwho suffer
because of physical or
emotional distress are
the ones who are sus-
ceptible, and unfortu-
nately, a large number
of seniors fall in this
group."
The top priority of the
attorney general's office
is the protection of aoci-
, e t y s most vulnerable
cihzens.
"I want to help our
senior citizens avoid
ever becoming victims of
fraud," said State
Attorney General Jim
Hood. 'Every single
thing we do: from crack-
ing down on home
repair fraud and identi-
ty theft to educating the
public about lottery
scams and mail fraud,
has this intent."
Seniors often stay
home. and those who The No. 1 place scam said Weep recordings of to prevent "missed" The attorney general's
live alone may be hun- artists obtain personal conversations or write opportunity or ask for ofiice is developing two
gry for attention, said information is the them down because the any type of personal publications to help
Bobbie Shaffett, family garbage can, Hedgepeth more information we information. senior 'citizens fight
resource management said. have, the more likely we To draw attention to financial abuse and
specialist with the Scam artists don't are to catch the perpe- consumer fraud involv- fraud. The h s t , a 40-
Mississippi State worry about getting trators." ing senior citizens, pay- page manual, targets
University E-on caught because most Seniors should be wary day loans and identity issues that seniors are
Service. Many of them people do not notice or of allowing strangers theft, Shaffett and other most likely to face. The
have home equity and cannot discern who has inside their homes with- fmancial advisers second is a manual for
investment wealth. she been rummaging. They out pmper identification waged a consumer edu- bank to assist employ-
said. use any information or legitimate purpose, cation protection cam- ees in protecting the
Teople generally ha>-e they h d to w n their Shaffett added. Most paign in February. h a n c i a l information of
the most money they way into someone's telephone or cable Extension agents with customers. Both publi-
will e a r in their life- home or steal someone's repair representatives, family resource man- cations should be avail-
times right before they identity without talking for example, secure a n agement responsibilities able soon, Hedgepeth
retire.' ShafFett said. to the person. appointment time. also provide educational said.
'Seniors should be espe- Identity theft is now "Don't automatically programs about fraud 'Anybody can be a vic-
cially protective of their the most common crime open the door if someone during the year. tim, even the police offi-
nest egg because they in the United States and Aows up unexpectedly," 'The importance of cers, attorneys and
are no longer earning a surpassed the number Shaffett said. saving money. especially reporters who work
steady income." of drug cases nationally She said seniors for emergencv needs, together to protect all
Seniors often feel they in 2005, Hedgepeth should hear warning cannot be emphasized citizens,' he said. We're
will need as much cash noted. signals when pushy enough," Shaffett said. from the South and
a possible to pay some- "One in six Americans, strangers steer social "People often turn to we're taught to be
one to take care of them mcluding senior citi- conversation to invest- payday lenders because polite, but don't d o w
as they age, but Shaffett zens: has been victim- ments or h a n c e s , urge they don't have money scam artists to put your
encouraged seniors to ized by identity theft," quick decision making and are vulnerable." name on the suckerlist."
exercise healthy skepti- he said.
~ q in m money natters. Seniors can get help by-)
''Idany of the people in
that age group were
contacting the attorney
general's office toll free
,
raised in an era where at 1-800-281-4418. They
people trusted others can also contact the
because they had to rely Secretary u t a t e ' s
on each other," Shaffett Office. t b o , Better
said. Business Bureau or a
If investments cannot local l a a ~ o r c e m e n t
be converted into cash agency. They should
quickly, seniors may report a scam even if
panic when they sud- they don't fall for it to
denly need money. At assist law enforcement
this point, desperation in apprehending crimi-
and a smooth-talking nals.
scam artist can cloud 'If a person receives an
good judgment and rre- e-mail or printed mater-
ate a false sense of secu- ial by m d , save it and
rity get it to us:" Hedgepeth