|
Beware of Common Frauds and Swindles Used
by Talented Con Artists...
Each year, thousands of people report incidents of criminal
fraud, swindles and confidence games. And it is estimated that for each
reported incident, two or more go unreported because the victims are too
embarrassed to admit they've been swindled.
Victims
Although anyone can be
the target of a con game, elderly persons often become victims. Recent
studies show that the average age of confidence game victims is 78 years
old. The victims are frequently in declining health, have poor vision, are
easily confused and have cash savings hidden in their homes. These victims
are sought out because they are less likely to identify the thieves, or to
prosecute if the thieves are apprehended.
Method of Operation
Residential confidence
offenders use different methods of operation to locate potential victims.
They travel in groups by pick-up trucks, vans, automobiles or on foot
during daylight hours.
Very often, the
residential con offender observes his victim a day or more prior to the
actual encounter. The victim may first be observed from a passing vehicle,
by a child selling candy or cookies, or by a female posing as a political
canvasser. Once a victim is located, a plan is devised and the offender
returns later, armed with information about the victim and the residence.
These types of
offenders will strike when an opportunity presents itself. If a potential
victim is seen working in the yard, the offenders will take immediate
action by entering the unattended, unlocked home to commit a burglary. The
con offender's goal is to enter the victim's residence unopposed -- for
example, as a repairman or utility inspector. Once inside, the victim's
attention is held by one or more members of the group, while the others
roam through the house taking money, jewelry, collectibles, strong boxes or
any concealable items of value.
Methods of Deception
The methods of
deception that con offenders use are limited only by their imaginations.
Some of the most popular poses used by adult con artists include the
following:
Gas company employees
Electric company employees
Water Department employees
Building inspectors
City inspectors
Telephone repairmen
Roofers
Chimney repairmen
Handymen
Cement repairmen
Window repairmen
Persons offering emergency family assistance
Prevention and What You Can Do
Here are some simple
things you can do to help prevent con offenders from victimizing you and
your neighbors:
Be observant and alert for strange pickup trucks, vans, station wagons and
cars cruising your neighborhood. Also observe strange pickup trucks, vans
or station wagons or cars parked in your street or in your alley that
contain occupants.
Take note of work being done on vehicles parked on the street that do not
belong there. Watch for minor repair work being done on sidewalks, stairs,
building foundations or chimneys. Watch for strangers walking down the
street with buckets and ladders or going door-to-door.
Write down the license
plate numbers of suspicious vehicles. Also note the make, model and color
of these vehicles and the operator and occupants of suspicious vehicles.
If you observe the
suspicious vehicles or persons in your neighborhood and think there is a
crime in progress, then call 9-1-1 with a complete description of the
incident. If the suspicious vehicles or persons are no longer on the scene
but you want to alert the Sheriff's Department, call the non-emergency
number (937) 456-6262.
If you have an elderly
person living next door or on your block and you see someone suspicious,
call the sheriff/police. If your parents are elderly and live alone, inform
them not to let anyone in their home for repairs without first contacting
you or the police.
Do's and Don'ts to Protect Yourself from Con Games
Don'ts
Don't give out personal
information, including credit card numbers (or even just expiration dates)
if you are not making a purchase. Do not give out this information even if
you are asked to do so for identification verification purposes, or to
prove eligibility for an offer.
Don't advertise that you live alone by the way you list your name in the
phone book or put it on your mailbox.
Don't be fooled by a trustworthy manner or an official-sounding position of
any person who makes an unusual financial proposition to you. Check the
person out first -- this may require calling the police.
Don't be fooled by persons claiming to represent a city or state government
agency. Always ask for their picture I.D.
Don't give strangers money or valuables as a "good faith"
deposit.
Don't sign anything that you do not understand.
Do's
Do be wary of strangers
with money propositions claiming to have been referred by your friends,
relatives or clergy.
Do be instantly suspicious of "deals" that require secrecy.
Do take a few days to consider money propositions; talk them out with
someone close to you.
Do notify the police if you come close to being victimized or if you are
actually victimized by a con game.
Do testify in court, if asked, to help stop this kind of crime.
Do get several estimates for every repair job and compare prices and terms.
Ask if there is a charge for an estimate before agreeing to let the repair
person or company inspect your home.
Do make sure you know your sales person's name and the name and address of
the company he or she represents.
Do ask the firm for references, and check them out. Inspect the finished
product.
Do contact your local Better Business Bureau to check out the company's
reputation before you authorize any work or pay any money.
Before you decide to
sign a contract, do make sure a completion date is specified and that you
know what the job will cost, if work will be sub-contracted, if a bond will
be posted to protect you against liens on your home, if the contract
includes all oral promises made, and if materials to be used are described
in detail.
Pay for home improvement
work with a check or money order, never with cash. You may wish to make
installment payments at the beginning of a job, when the work is almost
complete, and after the job is finished. Many reputable companies do not
require payment until work is completed.
Remember
... if you or someone else becomes a victim of a confidence game, notify
the police.
Help
Us help You stop someone from being another victim of a confidence game.
|
