Seniors Should Take Precautions
WHEN SOLICITED FOR DONATIONS
C
METRO CREATIVE
Be mindful of the possibility of fraud when solicited for donations over the phone.
harities often target certain groups of people when soliciting donations. Those groups may include past donors and people who have recently attended charitable fundraisers; such an approach can be very effective. It should come as no surprise that criminals posing as legitimate organizations tend to target specific groups of people as well. Anyone can be fooled by a fraudulent charity, but such criminals tend to target seniors more than others. According to the FBI, seniors often make attractive targets to con artists because they are most likely to have substantial savings, own their homes and/or have excellent credit. In addition, the FBI notes that elderly victims of fraud and other crimes
DONATIONS SHOULD ONLY BE MADE AFTER YOU HAVE
INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED
THE CHARITY’S ADDRESS AND MAILED STRAIGHT TO THE ORGANIZATION. are less likely to report those crimes out of fear that their families may feel they are no longer able to take care of themselves or manage their own finances. But, there are steps seniors can take to protect themselves from fraud. - Be skeptical of solicitors. Many
con artists will indicate that one has given to the charity in the past, hoping that prospective victims simply won’t remember if that claim is valid or not. If a solicitor or appeal letter claims that you donated in the past, don’t simply take it at face value, especially if you don’t recall making such a donation. Get specific information about alleged past donations and check that information against your own bank records and receipts. Many donors claim donations as deductions on their tax returns, which also can be used to verify or debunk solicitors’ claims. While not all solicitors claiming a past history of donations are dishonest, this is one way that criminals attempt to create a rapport with potential victims.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SHIP) NEEDS DEDICATED AND ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS!!!
1910962
TO: Provide support and outreach to members of the community seeking help with Medicare and other health insurance related issues. Training will be provided.
24 | 2013-2014 SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE GAZETTE & THE GAZETTE-STAR