Published: May 13, 2008 11:09 pm            

Seniors learn how to protect against identity theft, other scams

TERRE HAUTE — The message the Wabash Valley Homecare and Wabash Senior Activity Center sent to citizens during the 2nd Annual Fraud and Scam Awareness Seminar was a simple one: “It’s a jungle out there.”

The Wabash Valley Fairgrounds on Tuesday was equipped with a Lady Jane impersonator, a safari-laden atmosphere and raffle rewards, using lighthearted scenery to disseminate serious information. Senior citizens were versed on how to deal with identity theft and a laundry list of similar scams. Several speakers at the event also put an emphasis on awareness when dealing with a possible con artist.

Several measures were taken to inform the participants on an array of fraud-related risks that have swept the nation. The daylong event included experts from the AARP, Secret Service and Better Business Bureau to offer up ways for the elderly to police fraud and scams.

Terre Haute Police Sgt. Jason Czupryn said these crimes are on the rise, and deserve attention.

“Frauds and scams against the community as a whole, not just the elderly, is growing,” Czupryn said. “Over the last few years, it’s become more prevalent, but it’s something that our [police] department as a whole is combating and getting better at fighting every day.”

Secret Service Special Agent Dave Stefanich agreed that fraud is more prevalent. Stefanich said that con artists tend to prey on elderly citizens because they are more trusting and less leery of possible fraudulent activity on the Internet.

Lori Aplin, Wabash Heath Homecare Client Care coordinator, and Josie Blake, executive director of the Wabash Senior Activity Center, were the organizers of the event. Aplin said that a rash of incidents compelled them to put on the informative session.

“We were really concerned about the frauds and scams that were targeting seniors specifically,” Aplin said. “We’re out there in the homes of people that constantly report that they are targeted. It just became such a big issue that we thought, ‘we better get something together where we can proactively make sure that they’re protected.’”

The event also featured a proclamation by Mayor Duke Bennett and a ribbon-cutting with the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, along with speeches by Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter and former city police Chief George Ralston on security.

Irene Wegner, associate state director of the AARP, spoke about identity theft, offering the attendees a quiz on the subject while telling personal tales of trickery that those close to her have experienced.

“The AARP is concerned with seniors getting rucked,” Wegner said. “Our goal is to inform them about fraud pitfalls to prevent them from falling into them.”

Many attendees, including Barbara Piker, stayed to the very end, taking in every bit of information that was sent their way. “All the time and effort that the sponsors put into this was tremendous,” Piker said. “And my experience was absolutely wonderful.”

DeAntae Prince can be reached at (812) 231-4214 or deantae.prince@tribstar.com.

        

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