An Ounce of Prevention
TEN TIPS from prosecutor Paul Greenwood, head of the district attorney’s elder abuse unit, on avoiding financial elder abuse:
• Choose a caregiver with caution. Don’t assume an agency will send someone whose background has been checked. Such checks are not mandatory in California. Consider hiring a private investigator to check out the proposed caretaker.
• Keep an inventory of all jewelry. Jewelry is the number-one item stolen from seniors in San Diego County. Keep it in a locked drawer, and have photographs of it in a separate location. Says Greenwood: “One carpet cleaner, alone in the house, stuck his high-powered vacuum cleaner into a jewelry drawer, and ‘Clunk, clunk, clunk,’ the jewelry was sucked into his truck.”
• Every home needs a shredder. Every piece of mail with your name, address and any other identifying information, such as account numbers, should be shredded. Never throw away old checkbooks or credit-card applications. “Dumpster divers will be going through the trash.”
• Protect your incoming and outgoing mail. Never let mail sit in an unsecured mailbox. A mailbox with a red flag is an easy alert for cruising thieves.
• Do a credit search on yourself at least two or three times a year. The state of California guarantees you one free credit check a year. The three major credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
• Every telephone should have caller I.D. Incoming calls showing “private” or “unknown” may be a tipoff it’s a crook——they don’t want to show their own number.
• You will never, ever win the Canadian lottery. “It’s tragic that so many senior San Diegans have fallen for this scam.”
• Consider letting your bank send a duplicate of your monthly statement to a trusted family member or an accountant or attorney. An independent pair of eyes, looking over bank statements every 30 days, will be able to catch suspicious activity early.
• Don’t assume that friendly handyman is licensed. Always get at least three estimates for work in writing, and check the name of the contractor with the Better Business Bureau (858-496-2131) and the Contractors State License Board (800-321-2752). Insist on a written contract, and take photographs as the work progresses.
• Always have a second line of defense at your front door. Have a locked screen door or a security chain guard. Crooks will attempt to gain entry with such ruses as a fake emergency or false uniforms or badges.
If you see or suspect abuse of a senior, phone Adult Protective Services at 800-510-2020.
Warning Signs of Elder Abuse
• Obvious cuts and bruises, welts, discoloration or swelling.
• Burns caused by cigarettes, ropes or other bonds.
• Elder is withdrawn or depressed.
• Unusual mood changes or anger.
• Sudden weight loss or signs of dehydration or malnutrition.
If you see or suspect abuse of a senior, or a dependent adult, phone Adult Protective Services, 800-510-2020. If it is an emergency, call 911.
