Crime Against Seniors

Tuesday morning at the Elder Program proved to be an eventful session. It featured not one, but three community guest speakers.

Detective Dixon from the Louisville Metro Police Department’s (LMPD) Crime Against Seniors Unit spoke with determination. He emphasized how to detect a scam, how to choose a caregiver and power of attorney, and general safety precautions to take to prevent yourself from being taken advantage of. This entry will highlight some of these tips that are especially important for seniors and everyone to be aware of so they don’t fall victim to these crimes.

Detective Dixon from the LMPD

“90% of crimes investigated by the Crimes Against Seniors unit are financial, while only 10% are abuse and neglect cases.” Here are some of the most commonly seen financial scams:

  Ø  Home Improvement scams occur when someone agrees to do work on a house that they have no intention of doing. To prevent yourself from falling victim to this scam, the detective recommends a number of tips.

·         Do a background check on the business by searching for it in the Better Business Bureau and reading customer reviews.

·         Take pictures of the house before work has started and after it has concluded.

·         Always request a contract from the company that lays out exactly what work will be done, how it will be done, and when it will be completed.

·         Never pay more than 10% of the whole amount of over $1000 up front.

Ø  To avoid being scammed by fraudulent charities, research the charity before donating to it.

Ø  If you’ve ever received a phone call from a number you didn’t recognize, chances are you have had an encounter with a Telemarketing scammer. To avoid these, never give out personal information including social security numbers, banking information, information about family members or even your birthday if you do not recognize the organization the person is calling from.

Ø  Sweepstakes scams happen when you are told you have won a prize or a sum of money but you must pay taxes on it before you can collect. 

Ø  Lastly, the grandma scam is when someone receives a call that one’s grandchild has been in an accident or is in jail and needs money. The scammer may have gotten the information online and is able to know specific information about family members. Do not give out money on the phone. Instead, call relatives to find out if they have received similar news.

The second topic the detective discussed was how to find a good caregiver:

• Hire through an agency and ask about what showed up on the person’s background check.
• Put expensive jewelry and items of value in a safe. Jewelry is the most common item stolen from seniors.

• Before hiring a caregiver, take pictures of your valuables, have them appraised and take insurance out on the most expensive items.
• Get a free yearly credit report
• Check your monthly bank statements for accuracy
• Never be afraid to report a crime that has happened to you.

Kristen Abell from KIPDA answering questions for the Cuban elder group

Kristen Abell from the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) educated us on how to change a Medicaid MCO provider and answered several audience questions about health insurance.

Finally, came a speaker from the Survivors of Torture Recovery Center. The STRC offers free mental health counseling, psychiatric services and case management and art therapy for survivors. Located 4803 Southside Drive in Americana World Community Center it provides clients with a safe place to drink coffee and socialize with people in their community. Almost immediately after he began presenting, several elders expressed interest in coming in for a consultation.

Overall, it was another informative day at the KRM Elder Program.