Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s
AGING NEWS
For the week of August 14
THE STATE OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SCAMS
For the readers who consider themselves far too savvy to allow themselves to be victimized by a scammer, we bring the wisdom of noted intergalactic scoundrel Han Solo: Don’t get cocky, kid.
One momentary lapse in judgment can be all it takes to become a victim. Criminals never stop learning new ways to evade our defenses, and our watchfulness needs to evolve accordingly and continuously.
The basics don’t change. If something seems too good to be true, or too scary, or too unlikely, or it just feels “off,” it probably is. When it comes to your assets and your personal information, better to be overly cautious than overly trusting.
In most situations, money lost to a scammer cannot be recovered. Even in cases where scammers are successfully prosecuted and ordered to make restitution, the money returned to victims barely amounts to pennies on the dollar.
SHOW THIS PART TO YOUR GRANDKIDS
The Better Business Bureau reports that in 2022, for the first time, people ages 18 to 24 reported a higher median dollar loss to scammers than any other age group. Younger people are the group most targeted in online employment scams, where the BBB reports a median dollar loss of over $1500. Younger people may have grown up with the internet, but that also means they tend to not be as skeptical of it as older adults who remember the pre-online world.
The adage “two heads are better than one” applies here. Each generation can learn a facet of scam prevention from the others.
WALK A MILE IN A SCAMMER’S SHOES
Here’s a question we ask in OFA’s Scam Prevention presentations: from a criminal’s point of view, what’s the best kind of scam?
The answer may not be what you assume it is.
First, let’s think about the kind of scammers who get caught. What happened there? They didn’t evolve. They pulled a few successful jobs and got cocky. And got caught. Not much comfort for the victims, who are unlikely to ever be made whole.
Still at large are the more skillful scammers: the ones whose attacks go undetected, and thus can be repeated indefinitely. If they’re stealing from Medicare, Medicaid or an insurance company, for example, they don’t go for the big haul all at once, which would draw attention. They make their fake claims look like everybody else’s real claims. Then, before their scam is noticed, they move on to a different scam.
SLOW DOWN AND THINK
The challenge for all of us doesn’t involve specific actions so much as it involves slowing down, doing our homework, getting verified information from reliable sources, and doing all that before acting on false urgency or taking what appears to be the path of greatest convenience. That goes for any financial transaction, from a simple online purchase to complex banking issues.
A printable Scam Prevention Resources sheet is available at www.dutchessny.gov/aging. Contact OFA for information on group scam prevention presentations.
Golden Living is prepared by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, 114 Delafield St., Poughkeepsie, New York 12601, telephone 845-486-2555, email: ofa@dutchessny.gov website: www.dutchessny.gov/aging
FAMILY CAREGIVERS’ RESPITE VOUCHER PROGRAM
Are you a caregiver for a relative or friend who has a disability or chronic condition, and is over the age of 60? Or are you yourself over the age of 60 and caring for a child that is not your own? Learn how to apply for up to $600 in reimbursement for respite services.
The New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition (NYSCRC), managed by Lifespan of Rochester, Inc., is offering respite vouchers for up to $600. Caregivers may use the voucher for respite services that include:
- In-home care
- A center-based program
- Assisted living or nursing home programs
- Summer camp
While NYSCRC supports caregivers statewide, this program is for Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester County residents only. You must be the primary caregiver and provide a referral — a doctor, social worker, or other professional who knows you and your family. You cannot be in another respite program at the same time.
You may not use voucher funds to reimburse household expenses, like rent or food. Vouchers are good for 90 days.
For more information about NYSCRC and its programs, or to apply for a respite voucher, contact Rebecca at (585) 287-6391 or send an email to rhyde@lifespan-roch.org.
(Made possible by the Field Hall Foundation)
“SINATRA AND DINO” AT THE GRANDVIEW – CLOSE TO CAPACITY
Ol’ Blue Eyes is back – and this time he brought his friend Dino.
A free concert with “Sounds of Sinatra and Dino” for Dutchess County older adults (60+) is coming to the Grandview (176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie) on Thursday, September 21st, at 1:30 p.m. You’ll hear Frank and Dino’s biggest hits, there’ll be open floor space for dancing, and snacks available at intermission.
Reservations are required, and seating is extremely limited. Call 845-486-2555 during business hours to reserve a spot – seats are going fast!
If the event reaches capacity as expected, we’ll set up a waiting list.
MONEY SMART FOR OLDER ADULTS AT POUGHKEEPSIE FRIENDSHIP CENTER (Tue 8/15)
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County Family and Consumer Education Program presents a “Money Smart for Older Adults” workshop on Tuesday, August 15th at 10:45 am at OFA’s Poughkeepsie Friendship Center (114 Delafield St.)
Seating is limited, and advance registration is required. Call the Poughkeepsie Friendship Center at 845-486-2564 for more information.
The Money Smart for Older Adults program can help older adults, family caregivers, and others prevent, recognize, and report scams, fraud, and financial exploitation.
Money Smart for Older Adults was developed jointly by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the County of Dutchess.
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (Ends August 31)
New York State’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps low income households pay the cost of water and sewer services. The program can assist households who have past due bills (arrears) for water and/or sewer services.
Benefits are based on the actual amount of water and/or sewer arrears, up to a maximum of $2,500 per water or sewer provider, or $5,000 if water and sewer services are combined, per applicant household. Benefits are paid directly to the household’s water and/or sewer vendor(s).
Contact OFA for information on what qualifies an individual or household for LIHWAP assistance: 845-486-2555 or ofa@dutchessny.gov.
Additional details are available at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/.
Other news:
(Show this one to the kids) Worried about “getting old”? Here are 25 practices to adopt today for a happier future.
A PBS Frontline documentary on aging from 2006, newly made available. What’s changed about aging since 17 years ago?
Social Security strategies for women.
There’s a lot of movies that can be watched for free on YouTube.
This week’s birthdays:
8/12: Singer-songwriter-guitarist Mark Knopfler (74)
8/13: World Trade Center tightrope-walker Philippe Petit (74)
8/14: Actor-comedian-writer-musician Steve Martin (78)
8/15: Princess Anne (73)
8/16: Singer-songwriter-dancer-actress Madonna (65)
8/17: Actor-director Robert De Niro (80)
8/18: 41st First Lady Rosalynn Carter (96)
And our weekly Bad Joke:
Q: What has five toes and a heel but isn’t your foot?
A: My foot.
