PORT TOWNSEND — Along with the convenience and power resulting from digital technology, there is a host of dangers that can victimize unsuspecting or uninformed people, according to a presentation given to the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
“Learning about each other’s experiences and telling stories helps us to protect ourselves,” said First Federal vice president Laurie Szczepczynski, who gave the presentation in conjunction with Laurie Liske, the bank’s Port Townsend branch manager.
“We see a lot of fraud and scams on the rise. There was a time that we were protected out here, but unfortunately that’s no longer true.”
Liske and Szczepczynski spoke to an audience of about 45 people, providing tips and responses about specific instances of potential fraud.
Beware of errors
Scams are generally perpetrated by phone, mail and online, with errors in grammar and spelling providing a tip-off for the latter two.
“Typically we see someone receive a letter that is unsolicited that has a lot of grammar and spelling errors, which can be the first clue that something isn’t right,” Liske said.
Often times a mail scammer will include a check that is too big a payment for requested services, with instructions to deposit the check and send a personal check for a total less than its amount.
The sent check won’t clear and the recipient is out the cost of the check they mailed. Liske also said that many sweepstakes offers are fraudulent.
Another protective measure is to use a locked mailbox or a post office box, since theft of physical mail is often the basis of a scam.
The most popular phone scams target senior citizens, and one in particular pretends to be from a grandchild who is “stranded” in Mexico and needs money to repair a rented car.
The scammer masks his or her voice with static, making recognition difficult.
Another popular scam is from a “utility” threatening to cut power or water unless an immediate payment is made.
Listed numbers
In many cases the scammers claim to be from a recognizable company. In those cases people can protect themselves by returning the call to the corporation’s listed phone number rather than to the number provided by the scammer.
Utility scams are often uncovered when the victim calls the listed number directly, in which case they will find they are actually not in arrears.
Liske said that most fraud is perpetrated on people 60 and over, and this includes reverse mortgage scams, living trust scams, credit scams and using undue influence to swindle seniors out of property or assets.
“Unfortunately a lot of these scams go unreported because the victims may be afraid of losing their autonomy or they are embarrassed or protecting someone,” she said,
“So the family needs to look for changes in their spending patterns or transferring assets to friends they have known for a short time.”
The best protection against fraud is common sense and protection.
“If something looks like it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
