Crooks and scammers are targeting Warren County’s senior population, and frequently the perpetrators are from close to home.
The District Attorney’s Office has prosecuted a number of cases recently involving senior adult victims being defrauded by relatives or caregivers, Assistant District Attorney Bert Carraway told members of Triad, a community organization that promotes the safety of older adults.
“Our elders are targeted because they tend to have a nest egg. That’s what (criminals are) looking for,” Carraway said.
In one case Carraway described, an 84-year-old woman was charged $300 for a 19-mile trip to the grocery store. In another, a man’s grandson wiped out his brank account, stealing more than $50,000 Carraway said.
Prevention can be difficult when someone close to the victim is perpetrating the crimes, he said.
“It requires a lot of involvement by family and friends,” he said.
Some signs involve frequent expensive gifts to a caregiver or relative, bills stacking up and frequent appointments with bankers or attorneys, “especially when the person doesn’t know why they’re seeing a banker or attorney,” he said.

Plenty of fraud and scams are still committed upon seniors and the rest of the public by strangers. Some common in-person scams involve charging for fraudulent home repairs or tree trimming.
Scams frequently come in by telephone or e-mail. This week, the owner of one of Vicksburg’s historic tour homes reported to police that he received a call from someone claiming to represent Entergy.
The caller said the utility bill had to be paid immediately, or the electricity would be turned off for the bed and breakfast. Once the initial panic wore off, the man said, he called police.
The Vicksburg Post does not, in most instances, publish the names of people who have been victims or targets of scams.
The easiest way to avoid scams is to only do business with trusted sources, Carraway said.
“We need to spread the word that in this world it’s OK to say no, hang up or close the door on someone,” Carraway said.