SENIORS WARNED ABOUT CONS.Byline: Ann-Marie Sanchez Daily News Staff Writer Con artists increasingly are preying upon senior citizens, and seniors should beware of high-pressure door-to-door sales, telemarketing scams and free prize offers, Ventura and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. county officials said Monday. During a meeting at the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Senior Citizen Center, more than 25 seniors learned Monday how to spot a crook and not be a victim of the growing list of scams targeting seniors. ``It's an ever-increasing problem,'' said Sharon Kinlaw, senior housing coordinator of the Fair Housing Council of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Kinlaw and Valeri Lisa Cirino of the Ventura County District Attorney's Office spoke as part of an effort to raise awareness of fraud among the fastest-growing segment of the country's population. ``Eighty percent of the victims are 75 years or older with the majority being women, especially recent widows,'' Kinlaw said. Kinlaw described types of scams dealing with home-improvement contractors, home refinancing, foreclosures and caretakers for seniors. They all deal with sketchy paperwork, where con artists have seniors unwittingly sign over their homes, money or personal property. ``It (a scam (SCSI Configured AutoMatically) A subset of Plug and Play that allows SCSI IDs to be changed by software rather than by flipping switches or changing jumpers. Both the SCSI host adapter and peripheral must support SCAM. See SCSI. ) comes through ways you would never expect . . . a minister, a mortuary, a doctor's office,'' said Kinlaw about the avenues used by con artists. ``Some scam artist have as large as 100, 200 or 300 victims. They're very bold and work in tandem Adv. 1. in tandem - one behind the other; "ride tandem on a bicycle built for two"; "riding horses down the path in tandem" tandem with other people like notaries, bankers and contractors.'' TIPS FOR SENIORS The Ventura County District Attorney's Office offers the following tips to seniors to avoid becoming the victim of fraud: Take your time. Don't buy on the spot or give in to pressure. Scam artists are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a quick sale over the phone or door to door. Ask to see a salesman's solicitor's license and get a phone number and name of the company to verify the business. You also can call the Better Business Bureau. Be careful about letting a salesperson into your home. Ask for literature about the company or charitable organization This article is about charitable organizations. For other uses of the word charity, see Charity. A charitable organization (also known as a charity) is an organization with charitable purposes only. . Don't sign anything until you know what it is and get all promises in writing and keep a copy. CAPTION(S): Box Box; TIPS FOR SENIORS (see text) |
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