Fleecing Grandma and Grandpa : Protecting Against Scams, Cons, and Frauds

by Alt, Betty L.

• ISBN13: 9780275981792
• ISBN10: 0275981797
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-09-30
• Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group

Summary

Falling for a scam or con is humiliating for anyone, and can have terrible consequences. But for the elderly, being the victim of fraud can be disastrous, and they are the most common and vulnerable targets of everyday scams, cons, and frauds. From identity theft to gambling scams, from power of attorney issues to pyramid schemes, there is no dearth of creativity in the ways some criminals will relieve the elderly from their money and their homes. Here, Alt and Wells describe the most common scams, offer the stories of actual victims, and detail ways to protect yourself and your family from becoming easy targets. What makes the elderly such easy marks for con artists? How can they avoid the common traps? Knowing about them is one place to start, and this book helps readers to understand and identify the most common scams perpetrated against the elderly. Because such cons are so hard to prosecute, it is important to know the methods criminals employ to separate innocents from their hard-earned money. This lively, vivid account of one of the most insidious forms of crime will help families and individuals protect themselves and their loved ones from the machinations of those who view them as easy marks.

Author Biography

Betty L. Alt is lecturer in Sociology at Colorado State University, Pueblo.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
Chapter 1 Misplaced Trust	1	(22)
Chapter 2 I'm Safe at Home...Aren't I?	23	(24)
Chapter 3 Through the Mail (Snail Mail and E-mail)	47	(20)
Chapter 4 Identity Theft	67	(14)
Chapter 5 Telemarketing Frauds	81	(18)
Chapter 6 Caretakers and Crime	99	(22)
Chapter 7 Looking for Love	121	(16)
Chapter 8 Preventing Scams	137	(6)
Glossary	143	(4)
Notes	147	(10)
Bibliography	157	(8)
Index	165