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Business & Tech

Senior Citizens Warned Against Scams

Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs program warned against telemarketing and postal scams

Senior citizens are among the most targeted when it comes to scams in Ocean County. 

The Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs spoke with a group of seniors about recent schemes and ways to protect their money at Manchester's branch of the Ocean County Library last week.

Scammers prey upon the elderly because many are good natured and lonely, said Ed McBride, a retired police officer and investigator for the Department of Consumer Affairs. 

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“Since Ocean County has the largest senior population in all of the United States, we have to try to protect our citizens against them,” he said.

Maria Colon of the Ocean County library organized the event and said that she knows of many patrons who have lost money because of scams. 

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“We have a few patrons who have received letters in the mail that they need to send money in order to receive a prize that they won," she said. "I know this because I helped someone Xerox a copy of this type of letter and I told her not to send any more money."

“We also have another patron who is actually afraid that she will keep receiving phone calls and getting harassed for money, so I knew that I had to organize this event.”

McBride explained the latest fraud – the “granny” scam. This involves a person calling up a senior citizen and pretending to be a grandchild in need of immediate monetary help.  The con artist begs the senior to not call the parents and to wire a large sum of money right away.

During the presentation, McBride pulled out a thick scroll and visually depicted for the audience the enormous amount of scams that his department is currently aware about. 

He also warned the seniors about getting references when choosing a home contractor. 

“Make sure you get a contract with a name, address, phone number, outlining the actual work to be done if the job is over $500,” he said.

McBride explained that if a piece of mail arrives and it claims that you have won a huge amount of money in a lottery, it is a scam. 

Right now in Ocean County, the “lottery scam” involves receiving a fraudulent check for around $4,000. The mail warns the senior citizen to go to the bank and cash the check immediately without telling anyone, and then to call a phone number when you have secured the cash. 

The con artist then tells the senior to wire half of the money for “expenses” in order to be able to receive the awarded money. After that is complete, they call the senior back explaining that they need another $500 for additional expenses. 

“They keep calling and asking for $500 until you stop sending it” McBride said. “Unfortunately, when the money goes out of the country, we really can’t do anything to get it back.”

More information on senior scams is available from the county online

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