QUEENS CHRONICLE • SENIOR QUEENSLIVING CHRONICLE, GUIDE,Thursday, Thursday,July July21, 21,2022 2022Page Page248
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Senior Living Guide
To avoid financial scams, ‘just hang up’ by Deirdre Bardolf
year before, according to the Federal Trade Commission — amassing $5.8 At the end of June, the NYPD billion in that time period. There are many creative ways for announced a citywide grand larceny the con artists to get to people, too. pattern that targeted people in their 70s and 80s and swindled nearly There are five top categories of scams, according to the FTC: impos$40,000 total from them. One 83-year-old man from Bay- ter; online shopping; prizes, sweepside received a call in May stating stakes and lotteries; internet services; that a family member had been and business and job opportunities. Imposter scams almost doubled arrested and needed bail money. Someone met him at his home to col- last year from 2020 and can include lect $5,000. An investigation revealed alleged family emergencies and that the family member was not in Social Security and IRS imposter swindles. Online shopping scams any legal trouble and that the victim gave the money in “good faith based were most commonly reported to on false statements [and] promises,” the Better Business Bureau in 2021 and include fake websites. Other according to police. In June, a 74-year-old woman in cons will ask for a fee for the victim to receive prize money that Queens Village got a similar call and someone showed up to her home for never comes. To avoid falling victim to the myr$6,800 in cash. Luckily, she had contacted her family member and real- iad scams, the Queens District Attorney’s Office advises never sending ized that she was being scammed and money in the mail, by wire or in the did not hand over any money. This is common not just here but form of gift cards to a stranger; that the government, agencies and busicity- and countrywide, and has been nesses never ask for money to be sent trapping unassuming folks for years. In 2021, there were 2.8 million that way; never giving money if it requires keeping it a secret; never reports of consumer fraud in the U.S. — nearly 30 percent more than the giving strangers access to bank Associate Editor
Phone scams can target the elderly. PHOTO BY ANDREA PIACQUADIO / PEXELS.COM
accounts; never signing a document that has not been explained; avoiding unsolicited offers; and not clicking on attachments or links in emails from unknown senders. Earlier this year, the DA’s Office uncovered a scheme in which swindlers targeted 15 elderly victims and took around $166,000. They told people they were eligible for a refund or a rebate and convinced them to provide remote computer and bank account access. Then, they manipulated funds to make it appear that too much money had been deposited. The
calls you, you don’t have to talk to them,” she said. “If you don’t engage them in any conversation, you can’t get scammed.” As a senior herself, she said she knows some people are too embarrassed to admit they got conned. “People shouldn’t be embarrassed,” she said. “They should always report.” The NYPD has shared other ways that criminals can defraud people. Be aware of calls from a utility company about service interruption; a bank claiming suspicious activity; immigration officials threatening deportation or arrest; notice that a vehicle warranty expired; border patrol saying a package of narcotics has one’s name on it; and hospitals claiming emergency treatment for a loved one is needed. “Just hang up,” NYPD officials advise. To report such crimes, contact the local police precinct, the Queens District Attorney’s Office Elder Fraud Unit at (718) 286-6478 or elderfraud@queensda.org, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3. gov or the FTC at reportfraud.FTC. Q gov or 1 (888) 382-1222.
ESTATE PLANNING BASICS
The Parker Jewish Institute Golf Outing is set for August 1st
The three main documents in estate planning are the Will, Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy. Planning ahead can help your family avoid unnecessary complications, delays, and expenses. This may be done using wills, trusts, joint ownership, and life insurance. In addition, modern estate planning also includes “life” planning through powers of attorney and health care proxies, which enable someone to act on your behalf in the event of your incapacity.
The Parker Jewish Institute will host its 2022 the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. The New York Peter Seideman Golf Classic at the Glen Oaks Board of Rabbis Executive Vice President Rabbi Club on Monday, August 1. This year’s Golf Classic Joseph Potasnik offered a traditional blessing and begins registration and breakfast at 10 a.m., a message of hope. Proceeds from the event supfollowed by shotgun start at 11:30 a.m., and ported the mission of enhancing Parker’s extensive programs and services. cocktails and dinner at 4:30 p.m. Amid the lingering pandemic, The Golf Classic has been renamed Parker is continuing with its robust in loving memory of Peter Seideman, COVID-19 response, reinforcing a longtime and ardent supporter emergency pandemic preparedness of Parker and of the golf outing’s as well as infection-control prosuccess. At this year’s Golf Classic, tocols. To help protect the region, Parker is proud to honor Mark G. Parker maintains an outdoor clinic Nicholis, President, Nicor Construcfor COVID-19 vaccines and testing for tion, for his years of service to Parker Mark G. Nicholis community members. And Parker’s and to the Parker community at-large. Family Call Center helps families As always, the event and its prostay connected, including through ceeds will benefi t The Parker Jewish the scheduling and providing of Institute Foundation to enhance the in-person and virtual visits. network of programs and services for “We are so grateful to all of our patients and residents, as well as the donors, sponsors, families and team 8,000 people who access Parker’s members who are all integral to the continuum of services each year. Parker community,” said Michael N. Parker’s golf outing is one of two Rosenblut, The Parker Jewish Instimajor annual fundraisers, including a tute’s President and CEO. “Thanks to gala. This year, the Golf Classic folPeter Seideman our generous supporters, Parker will lows Parker’s second annual Drive-In Gala, which was held in June. The Drive-In Gala continue leading the way in patient care, research, honored Parker’s Health Care Heroes, who re- excellence and innovation.” To learn more about the 2022 Peter Seideman main instrumental in providing vital services, with compassion and dedication, to older adults in the Golf Classic, please visit https://parkerinstitute. community. WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond served as org/2022-golf.
By Donna Furey, Esq.
A WILL is a legally binding document that instructs who will receive your property at your death and appoints a legal representative to carry out your wishes. A will controls property owned solely by you. It does not control joint property, trust property or life insurance proceeds. For theLlatest qchron.com SENIOR IVING Gnews UIDE •visit SUMMER 2022
victims were urged to return funds in cash by mail. The crime was foiled when police found the address the packages were being sent to. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is ... and if it sounds too bad to be true, it probably is,” said Roger Gendron, president of the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association, about the topic that often comes up in civic and community board meetings, often with tips from the DA’s Office and the NYPD. Gendron has seen fake robocalls come up that even say “National Grid” but are not. He advises people to hang up and call the National Grid number on the bill. He says the issue often plagues older people who are not as familiar with the digital world. “Sometimes, it pays to be cynical,” he said. Betty Braton, chair of Community Board 10, believes that many of the older victims have never been a victim of a crime before and are too trusting and afraid to be rude. “They think when somebody says something official to them, they have to listen ... people need to internalize that just because somebody
A TRUST is a legal entity under which the “trustee” holds legal title to property for the benefi t of “beneficiaries.” The trustee must follow the rules provided in the trust instrument. An irrevocable trust is one that cannot be changed or rescinded by the person who created it, while a revocable trust allows the creator to change or rescind the trust. Trusts are often used for tax planning, to avoid probate, to allow someone with expertise to manage assets, to shelter assets and protect them from creditors, and/or for long-term care planning. A POWER OF ATTORNEY allows you to appoint someone to act for you in fi nancial matters when you are unable to do so yourself. The person you appoint should be someone that you trust to act in your best interest and make choices you would make if you were able to do so. A HEALTH CARE PROXY allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. Understanding these terms is the fi rst step toward planning your estate before consulting with a qualified professional. – ADVERTORIAL –
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