SENIORS TO GET HELP IN FIGHT AGAINST SCAMS 2 SEMINARS SET ON FRAUD SCHEMES.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE

Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Wily con artists often fleece trusting and vulnerable seniors in scams but authorities are arming the elderly of Santa Clarita to fight back.

Sheriff's deputies steeped in fraud schemes plan two seminars next week to teach potential victims how not to get stung.

"We know, unfortunately, the senior population is targeted as victims because of their age, their trustworthiness and less day-to-day observances of their financial matters," said Brad Berens, who heads the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging.

Officials plan to provide tips on fighting identity theft and other scams.

The Santa Clarita Valley is home to roughly 33,000 seniors -- ages 60 and older -- and by 2016 the number is expected to climb to 56,000, he said. The projection is conservative and the actual number of seniors could be 20 percent more, he added.

Statistics on fraud crimes committed on the elderly were not available from local authorities or the FBI, but identity theft is a problem nationwide, the agency says.

"The FBI understands that identity theft has become the fastest growing crime in America, and perhaps the fastest growing crime of any kind in our society," said FBI spokesman Kenneth Smith. "Seniors are vulnerable a lot of times, they're home alone, many times they live alone, have lost a spouse; they are easy prey."

Con artists may take advantage of their isolation.

Many seniors live on fixed incomes but have amassed substantial home equity or lifetime savings. They may have ailments or financial troubles and unwittingly jump at scammers' quick-fix offers designed to seize their wealth.

The schemes and perpetrators can change every few months, making it tough for even wary elders to be on guard. A critical mass is reached when people in their 70s and 80s -- who came of age in an era when manners and politeness were highly valued -- become the bull's-eye for burgeoning fraud networks aimed their way.

The scams range from an in-person lottery swindle to bogus phone pitches.

Sheriff's Sgt. Gregg Lewison said thieves often approach victims in grocery store parking lots or near banks, showing off a lottery ticket allegedly worth $20,000 and claiming they don't have proper identification to claim it.

"They say 'If you give me $5,000 I will give you the lottery ticket and you can turn it in and make a $15,000 profit,'" he said. "The bad guy convinces the victim to go the bank or ATM, and the victim withdraws $5,000." The forged lottery ticket later proves worthless.

Unscrupulous telemarketers try to persuade victims to send money or provide bank account, credit card, Social Security, birth date, medical insurance or Medicare information over the phone -- and despite their better judgment, many share the prized digits.

Claims about anti-aging products or nutritional supplements promising miraculous results may seem dubious -- even when endorsed by celebrities -- but a high-pressure pitch often clinches the sale, the FBI says. The Better Business Bureau can provide information about complaints lodged against products.

Those shopping online for medications may avoid counterfeits by patronizing only licensed vendors with a seal of approval from the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site, the agency says.

People should disclose private information only to legitimate sources they've dealt with in the past or should be certain who they're talking to, Lewison said.

Some crimes go unreported because victims are embarrassed, unfamiliar with the legal system or don't realize they've been duped until much time has elapsed.

"The more the delay, it makes the investigation harder to follow up on," Lewison said. Though they may forget telling details in the interim, he urges victims to step forward.

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If you go

Meetings to provide information on how to avoid being targeted by scam artists will be held at 2 p.m. March 7 at the Santa Clarita Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall; at 10 a.m. March 8 at the Canterbury Village Senior Center, 23420 Avenida Rotella, Valencia.

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