Retired teachers group hears how to avoid scams, fraud

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts, who also specializes as a public information officer, speaks to members of the Putnam County Retired Teachers Association Monday at the Putnam Inn about a myriad of scams that typically target older individuals, such as retirees, senior citizens and the elderly.
Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON

By now, nearly everyone with a cellphone has experienced a strange number ringing in from a distant location.

Is it a coworker? A telemarketer? A long-lost friend?

Chances are, the answer is “no.”

ISP Sgt. Joe Watts addresses a group of retired teachers Monday at the Putnam Inn in Greencastle.
Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON

With so many cases of telephone scam and fraud reported in 2016, which typically target senior citizens and the elderly, awareness of such criminal activities has become paramount and certain of Greencastle’s citizens have taken initiative to educate those most vulnerable.

The focus of a Monday meeting for the Putnam County Retired Teachers Association (RTA) at the Putnam Inn, Indiana State Police (ISP) Sergeant Joe Watts tackled a variety of these scamming situations, through which criminals can indirectly gain one’s personal information, including bank accounts and credit card numbers.

Watts, who is also a public information officer with ISP for much of west-central Indiana, spoke to retired teachers, retired principals and retired superintendents Monday, many of whom formed a sort of microcosm for the area’s most-targeted citizens.

“Your job now, in your retirement, is kind of like police work -- there are things that you have to do now that maybe you didn’t have to do before,” Watts said as he began, citing the ever-evolving world of criminality. “One thing we always tell people is: ‘Before you do something, always check with family and trusted friends.’”

Unfortunately, Watts also stated that family members may be the subject of certain scams. For example, many scammers will phone in and say an individual’s family member is incarcerated in a far-away state while asking for cash to be sent for the “inmate’s” bail.

Cash, Watts said, is one of the most important red flags for which to watch out.

“Most money-wire scams, they appear to be someone you don’t know who asks you to wire money -- it’s pretty simple,” Watts said. “And they might use different ways to convince you to wire that money.

“‘You won a prize; you won the lottery; a family member is in trouble; you need to pay for something you just bought online; or you got a check for too much money and need to send back the extra.’ These are all tricks. When you hear stories like these, you have spotted a money-wiring scam.”

Watts came complete with handouts and pamphlets for those in attendance to take home, which read:

What if I have already wired money to someone?

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-382-4357

• Go online to ftc.gov/complaint

How can I protect my identity?

• Keep financial records, Social Security and Medicare cards in a safe place

• Shred papers that contain personal or medical information

• Remove mail from the mailbox as soon as possible

How will I know if someone steals my identity?

Watch for:

• Things you do not buy

• Withdrawals you do not make

• A change of address you did not expect

• Bills that stop coming

Watts went on to inform the group of several agencies which people can notify if they suspect a possible scam. Anyone who is suspicious of a scammer may call: Equifax, 800-525-6285; Experian, 888-397-3742; or Transunion, 800-680-7289.

To create an identity theft report, or to submit a complaint to the FTC, call 877-438-4338 or go online.

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