Senior Scam Task Force working to protect elderly

Senior Scam Task Force
working to protect elderly

Outreaching to more agencies that provide services to seniors and developing better outlets for information to all seniors were two of the objectives defined by Ocean County’s Senior Scam Task Force during its organizational meeting.

The task force was formed recently by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office with the support of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders to address the concerns of exploitation of senior citizens who fall victim to scam artists.

Ocean County is home to more than 135,000 senior citizens, the largest senior population by percentage in the country. In order to reach a larger segment of the senior population, the task force will request participation from the Ocean County Senior Coordinating Council, caregivers and the clergy.

The task force already includes representatives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, local police departments and county agencies that are involved with senior services.

In order to raise the awareness of not only residents, but law enforcement as well, the county — along with the prosecutor’s office — will develop a videotape that will outline these scams and show people how not to fall victim.

Cynthia Boyd, senior fraud investigator for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, along with Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Madelin F. Einbinder, said there are a number of scams being perpetrated right now against senior citizens in Ocean County.

They noted the "granny scam" is growing in popularity, with unsuspecting senior citizens being contacted by someone pretending to be a grandchild, requesting money for an emergent situation.

It also appears more seniors are unknowingly being duped into participating in a lottery scam that is resulting in them cleaning out bank accounts based on false promises of winning lottery tickets.

The task force will continue to meet quarterly and share information concerning the ongoing and ever-changing scams perpetrated against seniors.

Quarterly bulletins also will be issued from these information sessions, and members of the task force will be available to speak at senior communities and organizations.

"These bulletins will be available for distribution to the various senior citizen associations in the county," Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas Kelaher said in a press release. "We will exert whatever efforts are necessary to inform and protect those most vulnerable to these unconscionable schemes."

Any questions or complaints concerning senior scams should be sent to local police departments, or to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 119 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08754, or call (732) 929-2027.