Midland police officer educates seniors about scams

DAVE SHANE

for the Daily News

Police officer Brennon Warren spent about seven years on road patrol before becoming a community relations officer for the City of Midland.

And while he told the Midland Daily News he enjoyed road patrol duties, he said he really likes doing what he did in late February during a Lunchtime Learners meeting with seniors at the Trailside Senior Center.

Warren spent more than an hour talking and explaining to local residents how to protect themselves from scams.

“I love it. It’s a wonderful job,” Warren said before his presentation. “It really gives me an opportunity to expand the relationship between our department and the community.

“I think it’s really important. … And being the face for the department is very important to me.”

Warren, 32, has had his new position for almost a year now. He said he is busier than ever.

While at the senior center, he presented an outline and explained what seniors need to watch out for.

Why are seniors the targets of scammers?

“Because you’re trusting and polite,” he told the audience of about 50 seniors. “They know that, so they’re going to prey on you.”

Not only are seniors more likely to listen to a phone caller, they also tend to have access to at least some retirement savings, they may not be alert because of medications they are taking, and some are more likely to be sad or depressed, Warren said.

“(Callers) can become that friend to you, to give them what they want,” he said.

Warren talked about the many ways that callers obtain information from potential customers – or victims.

People openly give out information through warranty cards, online contests, online surveys, social media (like Facebook) and general public records. He said many companies will tell you in their fine print that they may be sharing the information you give them.

“We can’t control this, so we have to be mindful it’s going to be here for a very long time,” Warren said.

He then proceeded to outline some of the most common scams and how they work to rob seniors, as well as others:

• Tech support scams – "You have a virus in your computer, but we can fix that for you."

• Grandchild scam – your grandchild is in trouble (an accident, injury or arrest) and needs money right now, but doesn’t want mom and dad to find out, that is why he is calling you.

Midland Police Department Officer Brennon Warren talks to seniors recently at Trailside Senior Center about how to avoid scams.