How Bergen is battling senior scam increase

Elder fraud easier amid isolation from pandemic

By: Liam Quinn
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office launched a crime prevention initiative to try to combat an increase in scams targeting seniors during the pandemic as the amount of fraud "skyrockets."
..... "During this unprecedented time, we have watched our senior friends and loved ones increasingly fall victim to scams perpetrated in person, virtually, or via phone," Bergen county Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a press release announcing the initiative Monday. [09/20/2021] "It is my priority to keep Bergen County's residents safe, especially our seniors."
.... Detectives from the prosecutor's office and Musella himself speak to community groups with the goal of educating people about common scams and tips on how to avoid them.

'A timely initiative'

..... Maria Aberasturi, the assistant social work administrator for the Bergen county Board of Social Services, said the prosecutor's office announcement is "a timely initiative" because there is concern that the pandemic has made it easier for scammers to target seniors due to isolation.
..... "When seniors were isolate like they were during the pandemic, they weren't out with their friends, talking with each other about their days and what they were doing," Aberasturi said. "A scam artist could present the opportunity or situation in a way that would convince a senior to pay for something. Because since there's no one else to say to the person 'gee, that doesn't sound right,' it made it easier for these con artists to con money."
.... But the targeting of seniors by scammers is not a new phenomenon. the FBI says millions of Americans fall victim to some sort of elder fraud each year.
..... These cams are extremely common, and the full scope of the issue is likely not even known by law enforcement. Aberasturi said that many cases go unreported because people are too embarrass admit they've been scammed.
..... One reason seniors are targeted is because they tend to be trusting and polite, according to the FBI, but also because they tend to have savings built up.
..... "Seniors have income, they are often at the end of their lives having all the assets they've accumulated," Ria Sklar said. "And they're vulnerable."

Presentations and types of scams

..... Sklar is one of the co-founders of Save Abused and Frail elderly, which goes by SAAFE. SAAFE is a volunteer organization in Bergen County that aims to raise awareness among seniors about the potential for elder abuse. Sklar, herself a senior has tried to help identify the latest scams.
..... "We did presentations to senior groups anywhere we could find them, anytime they would listen to us," Sklar said. "We would update what the newest scams were, we would try tot ell them what the newest scams were, we would try to tell them what to look for. Those things they could count on."
..... One type of scam Sklar identified was where a caller purports to be calling from the Social Security administration, which would never be done over the phone.
..... Recently SAAFE has not been as active as it had been in previous years. It has been hard, Sklar said, to get enough, staffing, which is completely volunteer, Sklar said a lot of the volunteer have aged out and are in assisted-living facilities or have died.
..... "We are not doing the presentation we used to do," Skler said. "We don't have the staffing we once had. It's very said, but that's they way it is."
..... But SAAFE is not alone in these outreach efforts. The county social services' Adult Protection Services had dealt with cases for years and has provided outreach as well. And these outreach efforts should be strengthened by the prosecutor's office's new initiative.
..... Aberasturi said the one way to help seniors who may be at risk of being scammed is communications, and that's especially true during a time when isolation is so prevalent.
....."It's just having conversations with your parents and grandparents," Aberasturi said. "Keeping those lines of communication open is really important."
..... To request a speaker form the prosecutor's office to address your group, email outreach@bcpo.net or call (201) 226-5511.

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