Older Americans increasingly being targeted in array of financial scams

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/10993724-418/older-americans-increasingly-being-targeted-in-array-of-financial-scams.html

Older Americans increasingly being targeted in array of financial scams

BY DAVID CRARY March 3, 2012 3:48AM

Boomers beware: Scams, frauds and other financial exploitation schemes targeting older Americans are a growing multibillion-dollar industry enriching the schemers, anguishing the victims and vexing law enforcement officials who find these crimes among the hardest to investigate and prosecute.

“The true con artists, who are in the business of making money off older folks through devious means, are very good at what they do,” said Sally Hurme, a consumer fraud specialist with AARP. “They cover their tracks, they use persuasive psychological means to spin their tales.”

Recently, three men told an elderly Evanston couple that they needed to check the water lines in the couple’s home — and then stole wedding rings and other jewelry. snip

The Toilet Paper Scam: Salespeople claiming their company was affiliated with federal agencies told their elderly victims that they needed special toilet paper to comply with new regulations and avoid ruining their septic tanks. Prosecutors said the company scammed about $1 million from victims from across the country, including some who purchased more than 70 years’ worth of toilet paper.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. One of the scams around here is home security systems.

Bastards are going door to door, and our neighborhood is mostly retired people.
ADP or ADT...something like that.
I looked them up on line and found LOTS of complaints about broken promises, high fees but no services, etc.