SHELBY TOWNSHIP — There’s an uptick in scams targeting seniors in Shelby Township, and authorities are warning residents to stay alert.
“We’re seeing this several times a week, where our detective bureau is dealing with seniors getting scammed out of money,” Shelby Township Police Sgt. Kevin Bailey said. “It’s getting to the point where our captain, chief and deputy chief said we need to really attack this.”
Modern-day criminals have become more sophisticated and more creative, finding new ways to rob innocent seniors of their hard-earned money.
The Shelby Township Police Department wants to spread awareness about a number of circulating scams that target seniors.
To date, he said the losses have ranged from hundreds to anywhere between $30,000 and $80,000.
“Some of these senior citizens are draining their life savings, their 401(k)s, to pay scammers,” Bailey said. “These are these people’s livelihoods that are being taken.”
Criminals often pretend to be from known and trusted government and law enforcement agencies and businesses. A common scam involves a scammer pretending to be a family member — or someone calling on the family member’s behalf — and claiming the loved one has been arrested, injured or in an emergency. They then ask the older adult to send money immediately for bail, legal fees or medical expenses, often via gift cards, wiring money or cryptocurrency.
In the medical billing scam, criminals pretend to be hospitals, Medicare representatives, or insurance companies and ask for payment or personal information over the phone.
Others often claim to be from an electric, gas or water company, stating the service will be disconnected unless an immediate payment is made.
The con artists all have one goal, to create a sense of urgency, fear or excitement that pressures seniors into making quick decisions.
The best defense, Bailey said, is to slow down, always verify information and avoid sharing any personal information. Above all, police stress that residents should never send money over the phone or via email to anyone they don’t know.
People with questions about the legitimacy of a call are urged to immediately hang up and call their local police department’s nonemergency number for verification.
The Shelby Township Police Department is also spreading the word about senior scams via a trifold brochure that will be shared across the community.
“We will take those to local churches and community centers to try to get the information out on the different scams we’re seeing more and more,” he said.
And it’s not just in Shelby Township.
Criminals are trying to take advantage of older adults throughout Macomb County, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office is bringing awareness to the various scams that Macomb County seniors are facing by giving Senior S.C.A.M.S. (Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors) presentations and phone calls throughout Macomb County.
“Protecting our seniors is not just a duty, it’s a responsibility. I want to make sure Macomb County seniors thrive and are armed with the knowledge to avoid scams,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a prepared statement.
Lucido invites seniors to participate in one of two free telephone town halls from their homes Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, where he will discuss how to prevent scams and safeguard against exploitation. Participants are welcome to ask questions during the call or simply listen in. The events will begin at 6:30 p.m. and require registration through the Prosecutor’s Office website at macombgov.org/departments/prosecutors-office. After registering, participants will receive a phone call at the time of the event.
Statewide, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning of an increase in scammers using bitcoin ATMs to defraud unsuspecting victims.
“If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from an agency or company who demands you use a Bitcoin ATM to pay a fine or bill, it is most certainly a scam,” Nessel said in a prepared statement. “Before taking any action, hang up, breathe, and verify any claims.”
For more information about the Shelby Township Police Department and its senior scam outreach efforts, call the department at (586) 731-2121.
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