| Con Artists |
By J. Vaughn.
Every year thousands of people lose their life savings to some of the most vicious crooks around. They are con artists who not only steal cash, but rob people of their security and peace of mind. While the basic premise of the frauds may vary, the outcome is always the same: trusting people withdraw large sums of money and before they know it, their money is gone.
These types of fraud are devastating not only to the victim, but to the community as a whole. Although anyone can be the victim of a con artist, many seniors fall prey to these men and women, because seniors are most often on fixed incomes and would welcome some additional money.
These
con artist have a great sense of timing and suddenly appear with a deal
“that is too good to be true,” just when you need some extra money.
Most often when someone wants to give you something for nothing, there is a “catch”.
You should call a friend, call your bank, or call the police
to help you make an informed decision. If it is a legal deal, it will not hurt
to take a little time to think about the offer. “High pressure” is not
the tactic of people who are legitimate. Remember when a deal is “too good
to be true,” it usually isn’t true!
Many county sheriffs and community police departments not only can offer assistance with a possible con game, but it also offers many programs to seniors and the community, including the following:
- Neighborhood Watch;
- Hot Spots and Crime Stoppers; and
- Citizen Police Academies.
The Neighborhood Watch program allows residents of neighborhoods to join together and watch out for the residents who live in their neighborhoods. Seniors are valuable assets to these watch groups. Many seniors no longer have full time jobs and are home when other residents are at work. In Neighborhood Watch, if any suspicious activity is seen it is reported to the police.
Sheriff and police departments recognize that sometimes people do not want to call the police. Some people just do not want to get involved, others are afraid of retaliation. To help residents with these problems many sheriff and police departments offers two programs which allow residents to report crime anonymously. “Hot Spot” cards allow residents to report crime by writing down the details to the crime and placing the card in the mail.
The second way to report crime anonymously is by calling a local hotline number, such as 618.549.COPS (549.2677) in Carbondale. The officer who answers the phone asks for details of the crime and gives the caller a number. The caller can then check back with the department, give the officer the number, and if an arrest has been made the caller receives a reward. Remember you never have to give your name.
Finally, many sheriff and police departments offer both a Citizen Police Academy and a Senior Citizen Police Academy. These two academies allow the citizens of the community to learn more about the police department that serves them. The academies are in a classroom setting, but there are many demonstrations and “hands on” opportunities.
The academy groups are primarily instructed by local police officers, but they may also offer special instruction from a Judge, the County States Attorney, and the director of the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group which targets the sale of illegal drugs. The two academies are very similar, but the Senior Citizen Police Academy is not as long and targets areas that we feel are important to seniors. Seniors are encouraged to take one or both academies.
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Note: Police Academies may be offered in other locations in Southern Illinois. Watch the newspaper for announcements. For more information, use the link below to contact us.
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