Seniors taught how to avoid scams

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By Steven Martens | Saturday, February 9, 2008 11:26 PM CST | () comments

CLINTON, Iowa — To explain why senior citizens are among the most frequent targets of scam artists, Alan Green says it’s a simple matter of nature.

“If you watch nature programs, who do predators attack?” said Green, director of the Clinton County Seniors vs. Crime program. “Do they attack the strongest in the herd? No, they attack the weakest and those who are most isolated from the herd.”

In an effort to keep predatory scam artists at bay, Green puts on programs for senior groups, gathers information about possible scams to turn over to law enforcement and works as a liaison between seniors in the community and law enforcement.

His efforts recently paid off in the arrest of Tamara Rohn, 37, of Clinton, who was charged with 10 counts of third-degree theft in November after she allegedly approached several Clinton residents, mostly senior citizens. She told them her mother was in the hospital and that she needed gas money to go visit her. She was given amounts of money ranging from $10 to $95.

Her pre-trial conference is scheduled for Feb. 13. If convicted, she faces a maximum of two years in prison on each count.

Green first received calls about the alleged scam in August, then received more calls after he wrote about it in his weekly newspaper column.

Seniors vs. Crime is part of the national Triad program, which partners police departments, sheriff’s departments and seniors organizations. Clinton County’s program includes the police departments from Clinton, Camanche and DeWitt, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and the local chapter of the American Association for Retired Persons.

Green is a part-time employee of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department. Scott County has a similar program, he said.

Green said senior citizens sometimes feel they would be bothering the police if they reported what they believed to be suspicious activity, but he serves as a person they may feel more comfortable calling who can investigate their concerns and offer advice.

He said the most important rule for avoiding scams is to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He said that is especially true of offers of cash prizes for contests the recipient of the offer never entered, which often involve sending money to claim the prize.

“People know in the back of their minds that it’s a scam, but they want to believe they can get something for nothing,” he said. “But that’s human nature.

The program offers help to everyone, not just senior citizens, and with Internet scams becoming more common, the information the program offers is important, said Bob Soesbe, a member of Clinton’s City Council and a Seniors vs. Crime board member for 12 years.

“It isn’t just seniors who are out there getting conned,” Soesbe said. “It’s getting worse every year.”

In addition to information about possible scams, Seniors vs. Crime also provides senior citizens with donated cell phones they can use to call 911. The organization also sponsors the “File of Life” program that encourages seniors to place a packet containing their emergency contact information, doctor’s name and phone number and any information about their medical condition and medications in a package on their refrigerator where medical personnel can find it easily in the event of an emergency. It soon will start a similar program where seniors will place that information in the glove compartment of their cars.

Reporting a scam

To report a possible scam or for more information about the Seniors vs. Crime program, contact Alan Green at (563) 242-9211, Ext. 4433, or alangreen@ci.clinton.ia.us.

In Scott County, contact Triad Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, or SALT, by calling the Scott County Sheriff’s Department at (563) 326-8217.

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.