Man loses fortune, wife to scam
By C. JEROME CROW-DN Staff Writer
Red Bluff Daily News
CORNING - Fraud is simply, "financial rewards acquired under deception," according to Yose Van Howt of the Butte County District Attorney's office and special agent with the U.S. Marshal's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Van Howt and other experts were part of a forum organized by Congressman Wally Herger, R-Chico, and hosted by the Corning Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday to help educate seniors on the dangers of scams that have devastating effects on their lives and financial well being.
Herger has been presenting the forum in communities around his district.
Herger introduced a man whose life has been ripped to shreds as a result of such scams. Jim Anderson, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant, ultimately lost his retirement and his wife Norma.
Anderson told his story, sometimes holding back tears, to the crowd in the Corning City Council chamber, about how his wife had been lured into an international sweepstake's scam and sent thousands of dollars to obtain promised millions.
"These letters came from England and Germany and Israel. They said you had won millions and all you had to do was send some money via a MoneyGram at Wal-Mart," said Anderson.
Anderson said that his wife had received very real-looking checks and documents and that she would at times send between $700 to as much as $5,000 for such things as service charges or courier fees.
Then she was told that an account had been set up for her at the Lloyds Bank of London. But in reality, the checks would bounce and they would then also have to cover those fees.
He showed the crowd an enormous stack of receipts and bills he had found that detailed the scam that cost them $569,000 and which ultimately drove his wife to suicide. "We got nothing, just a stack of receipts," said Anderson. "Don't ever give your information. Don't answer the letters. Hang up the phone. Don't fill out the forms. You won't get anything but this."
Herger then introduced Van Howt, who talked about some of the new schemes and about how seniors can protect themselves from identity theft.
"One of the newest scams is the jury-duty scam," said Van Howt. "Someone will call you and tell you that you are in trouble because you missed jury duty. When you tell them you didn't get a summons, they get you to tell them your name and Social Security number."
He advised that if someone gets a call like that, "just hang-up." Then follow up by calling back to the appropriate office with the information.
He also asked the audience how many of them had their Social Security cards in their wallets. When a few held their hands up, he warned them that it is not a safe practice.
Van Howt also advised people to watch their credit reports and to shred documents before throwing them away.
He said last year $56 billion were lost in such scams and 63 percent of them were preventable.
"Crimes that target seniors are on the uprise because of two factors," said Peggy Osborn of the state attorney general office. "First, because it's the fastest growing portion of the population; and second because 70 percent of the wealth of the United States are held by those ages 60 and older."
She also explained why seniors often make easy targets.
"They aren't rude," said Osborn. "Rudeness can save you from those who want to separate you from your money."
Osborn said that the "just hang-up policy," is a good one. "Seniors come from a different generation than a lot of younger people. They are polite to people and they will listen."
Osborn said one of the latest scams she has dealt with are people who join churches to defraud congregations.
"Being a man of faith, I don't even want to think about what is going to happen to the people who do this kind of thing," said Herger, shaking his head.
Jessica Cunningham, director of Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs for Shasta and Tehama counties, added that often those who are isolated and lonely are easy targets.
She said the biggest threat is not professional con artists, but can be ill-meaning family, friends and care givers.
Cunningham added that if you do not enter a sweepstakes, you can not win one. There are laws that ban scratch-off type tickets that do not post odds and to not call 900 numbers. She warned those attending to be careful of door-to-door repairmen who are "just in the area" or "have some extra roofing material and can give you a good deal."
"These people will call and ask how your cold is or if you've been eating," said Cunningham. "They establish relationships, and the poor person thinks they care and starts to trust them."
Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker told the audience that this is a local problem.
"Every time I do one of these forums for the next two weeks I'll get calls and letters," said Parker, who brought with him a stack of fraudulent checks and sweepstakes. "I even get these offers sent to me in my e-mail."
He advised the crowd that, "If it sounds to good too be true, it probably is."
Jeff Fitch of the United States Postal Service spoke about some of the mail scams that he has investigated over the past 12 years.
"If you receive anything in the mail that you didn't order, it's yours," said Fitch. "You do not have to pay for it. If you have any questions contact the post office.
He added that the best way to not get swindled is to not respond to things that look to good to be true.
Fitch talked about scams such as reshipping. This is where stolen goods are sent to someone who is unaware they are stolen and they are contracted to repack and ship the item. Other scams include envelope stuffing, chain letters and pyramid schemes. All of these should be reported to the postal service.
"We are working at this full time," said Fitch. "But so are they, so be careful."
At the conclusion of the forum, Herger stood by Anderson and thanked him for sharing his story.
"Jim has suffered the ultimate tragedy that one could experience by being a victim of these scams," said Herger. "We meet here today because of the experience that Jim has lived through."
Anderson said he tells his story so that he can help other protect themselves. He put up one finger and said, "If we can save one person from this, it would be worth it."
Herger told from personal experience that his own daughter had been a victim of identity theft when her credit cards were stolen and that two members of his staff have had family members who have been targets.
"This is something that affects everyone," said Herger. "Everyone thinks it won't happen to them, but it can and probably will so you need to be prepared."
After the forum Herger provided those attending with anti-scam kits and honored them by "officially deputizing" them honorary marshals serving Senior Citizens Against Manipulation of SCAMs.
"Knowledge is power," said Herger. "It is for that reason that I hope you not only inform yourself on senior scams, but you will also inform your friends, family and neighbors about this threat."
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Staff writer C. Jerome Crow can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or at cjeromecrow@hotmail.com
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