• How to be more aware of fi nancial and phone scams

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, July 21, 2022 Page 24 QUEENS CHRONICLE • SENIOR LIVING GUIDE, Thursday, July 21, 2022 Page 8

Senior Living Guide

To avoid financial scams, ‘just hang up’

by Deirdre Bardolf

Associate Editor

At the end of June, the NYPD announced a citywide grand larceny pattern that targeted people in their 70s and 80s and swindled nearly $40,000 total from them.

One 83-year-old man from Bayside received a call in May stating that a family member had been arrested and needed bail money. Someone met him at his home to collect $5,000. An investigation revealed that the family member was not in any legal trouble and that the victim gave the money in “good faith based on false statements [and] promises,” according to police.

In June, a 74-year-old woman in Queens Village got a similar call and someone showed up to her home for $6,800 in cash. Luckily, she had contacted her family member and realized that she was being scammed and did not hand over any money.

This is common not just here but city- and countrywide, and has been trapping unassuming folks for years. In 2021, there were 2.8 million reports of consumer fraud in the U.S. — nearly 30 percent more than the year before, according to the Federal Trade Commission — amassing $5.8 billion in that time period.

There are many creative ways for the con artists to get to people, too. There are five top categories of scams, according to the FTC: imposter; online shopping; prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries; internet services; and business and job opportunities.

Imposter scams almost doubled last year from 2020 and can include alleged family emergencies and Social Security and IRS imposter swindles. Online shopping scams were most commonly reported to the Better Business Bureau in 2021 and include fake websites. Other cons will ask for a fee for the victim to receive prize money that never comes.

To avoid falling victim to the myriad scams, the Queens District Attorney’s Office advises never sending money in the mail, by wire or in the form of gift cards to a stranger; that the government, agencies and businesses never ask for money to be sent that way; never giving money if it requires keeping it a secret; never giving strangers access to bank 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 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 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. gov or 1 (888) 382-1222. Q

Phone scams can target the elderly.

PHOTO BY ANDREA PIACQUADIO / PEXELS.COM

ESTATE PLANNING BASICS

By Donna Furey, Esq.

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.

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.

A TRUST is a legal entity under which the “trustee” holds legal title to property for the benefi t of “benefi ciaries.” 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 qualifi ed professional.

The Parker Jewish Institute Golf Outing is set for August 1st

The Parker Jewish Institute will host its 2022 Peter Seideman Golf Classic at the Glen Oaks Club on Monday, August 1. This year’s Golf Classic begins registration and breakfast at 10 a.m., followed by shotgun start at 11:30 a.m., and cocktails and dinner at 4:30 p.m.

The Golf Classic has been renamed in loving memory of Peter Seideman, a longtime and ardent supporter of Parker and of the golf outing’s success. At this year’s Golf Classic, Parker is proud to honor Mark G. Nicholis, President, Nicor Construction, for his years of service to Parker and to the Parker community at-large.

As always, the event and its proceeds will benefi t The Parker Jewish Institute Foundation to enhance the network of programs and services for patients and residents, as well as the 8,000 people who access Parker’s continuum of services each year.

Parker’s golf outing is one of two major annual fundraisers, including a gala. This year, the Golf Classic follows Parker’s second annual Drive-In Gala, which was held in June. The Drive-In Gala honored Parker’s Health Care Heroes, who remain instrumental in providing vital services, with compassion and dedication, to older adults in the community. WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond served as

the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. The New York Board of Rabbis Executive Vice President Rabbi Joseph Potasnik offered a traditional blessing and a message of hope. Proceeds from the event supported the mission of enhancing Parker’s extensive programs and services. Amid the lingering pandemic, Parker is continuing with its robust COVID-19 response, reinforcing emergency pandemic preparedness as well as infection-control protocols. To help protect the region, Parker maintains an outdoor clinic for COVID-19 vaccines and testing for Mark G. Nicholis community members. And Parker’s Family Call Center helps families stay connected, including through the scheduling and providing of in-person and virtual visits. “We are so grateful to all of our donors, sponsors, families and team members who are all integral to the Parker community,” said Michael N. Rosenblut, The Parker Jewish InstiPeter Seideman tute’s President and CEO. “Thanks to our generous supporters, Parker will continue leading the way in patient care, research, excellence and innovation.” To learn more about the 2022 Peter Seideman Golf Classic, please visit https://parkerinstitute. org/2022-golf.