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Aug. 16, 2006 - Multiple Tactics to Lure Fraud Victims

Multiple Tactics to Lure Fraud Victims

The NASD Investor Education Foundation, in cooperation with WISE Senior Services and AARP Foundation, released a study, Off the Hook Again: Understanding Why the Elderly Are Victimized by Economic Fraud Crimes, looking at why some elderly investors are more susceptible to investment fraud than others. Con artists use multiple tactics in their pitches, and the report suggests a key deterrent to investor fraud would be increasing awareness of how criminals trick victims and to report fraud to law enforcement. Help Senior clients by telling them to be on the lookout for common strategies.

Among them are the phantom fixation (dangling the prospect of wealth and riches); scarcity (making products offered seem rare to increase their value); source credibility (claiming to be from a known legitimate business); comparison (juxtaposing a more expensive price with the offered price); friendship (appearing to be the victim's friend); commitment (victim makes a commitment early on, then con uses it against them); and profiling (identifying the victim's psychological hot buttons through extensive questioning). See the study at http://www.nasdfoundation.org/WISE_Investor_Fraud_Study_Final_Report.pdf

SENIOR ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL®
PO Box 1260
Murphys, CA 95247
phone 800-500-4564
sarec@seniorsrealestate.com
www.seniorsrealestate.com

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Aug. 16, 2006 - Caller ID Scams

Caller ID Scams

Caller ID is the latest weapon against Seniors in scam artists' toolbox. They use technology that makes the number that pops up on caller ID seem like a legitimate business--a bank, mortgage or credit card company. The technique is often known as "spoofing" and victims, believing the call is authentic, disclose personal information that is used to steal their identity. Scam artists work at squeezing private information--credit card, Social Security or driver's license numbers--from victims. As with any potential scam, reveal nothing. If you think it might be a legitimate call, tell the person you'll call back. Do not use the number they give you. Call the number on back of your credit card, the number on your mortgage statement, and so forth to be certain of where you're calling.

SENIOR ADVANTAGE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL®
PO Box 1260
Murphys, CA 95247
phone 800-500-4564
sarec@seniorsrealestate.com
www.seniorsrealestate.com

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Aug. 8, 2006 - Senior Information and Resources - State by State Directory

SENIORS INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

State-by-State Directory

ALABAMA – Visit Alabama’s Department of Senior Services at http://www.adss.state.al.us/. Phone: 334-242-5743.

ALASKA – Visit Alaska’s Commission on Aging at http://www.alaskaaging.org or Senior & Disabilities Services at http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dsds for information on senior assistance programs, residential services, and much more. Phone: 907-269-3666.

ARIZONA – The mission of the Aging and Adult Administration is to support and enhance the ability of at-risk and older adults to meet their needs to the maximum of their ability, choice, and benefit. For a full list of senior citizen services, visit http://www.de.state.az.us/aaa. Phone: 602-542-4446.

ARKANSAS – For a service directory for aging persons, visit http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/sgAging.html.

CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Aging administers a broad range of home- and community-based services throughout California, working primarily with the Area Agencies on Aging who serve seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers. For more information on specific programs and services, visit http://www.aging.ca.gov/index.html. Phone: 916-322-3887.

COLORADO – Visit Colorado’s Division of Aging and Adult Services at http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/oss/aas/index1.html for detailed information on aging and adult services and programs. Phone: 303- 866-2800.

CONNECTICUT – For information on programs serving older adults, visit Connecticut’s Elderly Service Division at www.ctelderlyservices.state.ct.us/. Phone: 800-994-9422. For a listing of Connecticut and national sites related to seniors, visit http://www.coa.state.ct.us/websites.htm.

DELAWARE – For information on senior services, demographics, advanced directives/living wills, caregiver support, and much more, visit the Division of Services for Aging at http://www.dsaapd.com/. Phone: 800-223-9074.

FLORIDA – For a directory to information on seniors organizations; services for elders (assisted living facilities, adult family cares homes, etc.); long term care licensed programs, and much more, visit http://taxonomy.myflorida.com/Taxonomy/Floridian/Elders%20and%20Retirement or visit the Department of Elder Affairs at http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/. Phone: 850-414-2000.

GEORGIA – Visit Georgia’s Division of Aging Services at http://www2.state.ga.us/departments/dhr/aging.html for information on specific programs and services for seniors. Phone: 404-657-5258.

HAWAII – Department of Human Services, Adult Services: http://www.state.hi.us/dhs/

IDAHO – The Commission on Aging’s mission is to assist seniors and vulnerable adults retain their dignity and independence by providing the options and resources to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as
they choose, and a vision of easy access to Aging and Adult Services. For program and services offered, visit http://www.idahoaging.com/programs/index.htm. Phone: 208-334-3833.

ILLINOIS - The Illinois Department on Aging helps older people live independently in their own homes and communities. To best serve older adults, they also serve their families and teach younger people about the realities of aging, so many of their programs have an intergenerational emphasis. Visit http://www.state.il.us/aging/ for demographical information, agencies serving seniors, and much more. Phone: 217-785-3356.

INDIANA – For information on Indiana’s long term care insurance program, nursing home facilities, and much more, visit the Family and Social Services Administration Seniors section at http://www.in.gov/fssa/elderly.

IOWA – For information and services for Iowans over the age of 60, visit the Department of Elder Affairs at http://www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs/. Phone: 515-242-3333.

KANSAS – For senior citizen resources information, visit the Kansas Department on Aging at http://www.agingkansas.org/kdoa/. Phone: 785-296-4986 or 800-432-3535.

KENTUCKY – Visit Kentucky’s Office of Aging Services at http://chs.ky.gov/aging/ for information on seniors programs, retirement communities, and much more. Phone: 502-564-6930.

LOUISIANA – For website links to a variety of services for seniors and elders, visit http://wwwsrch2.doa.state.la.us/sdsprod/user/searchpage.asp?catID=000&catName=&subCatID=000&keyword=elderly&keyword2=elderly.

MAINE – For information on programs and services for older adults, and their families, visit the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services at http://www.state.me.us/dhs/beas/. Phone: 207-287-9200 or 800-262-2232.

MARYLAND - The Maryland Department of Aging provides seniors and their families with information, education, programs and services such as housing, insurance counseling, health and fitness, caregiving, financial and legal, long term care ombudsman, and more. Visit http://www.mdoa.state.md.us/Information/. Phone: 410-767-1100.

MASSACHUSETTS - For special programs and benefits for seniors, visit http://www.mass.gov/portal/index.jsp?pageID=va&c=homehealth&v=seniors. For two leading resources on information and services for the elderly in Massachusetts, go directly to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs at http://www.ma-elderaffairs.org/ or 800-AGE-INFO.

MICHIGAN – For supportive services for seniors, including information and resources for seniors within their community, visit http://www.michigan.gov/emi/0,1303,7-102-112_218---,00.html.

MINNESOTA – Visit Aging and Adult Services at http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/agingint/Services/aasdiv.htm. Phone: 651-296-2544.

MISSISSIPPI – Visit Aging and Adult Services at http://www.state.ms.us/frameset.jsp?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mdhs.state.ms.us%2Faas.html for a profile of Older Mississippians, caregiver support program information, and area agencies on aging. Phone: 800-948-3090.

MISSOURI – For information on locating long-term care facilities, home and community services, a guide for seniors, and much more, visit Senior Services at http://www.dhss.state.mo.us/Senior_Services/. Phone: 573-751-6400.

MONTANA – For financial planning, legal services, housing information, and much more, visit Montana’s Senior and Long Term Care Division at http://www.dphhs.state.mt.us/sltc/index.htm. Phone: 800-332-2272.

NEBRASKA – Visit Aging Services at http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/ags/agsindex.htm. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Phone: 402-471-2306.

NEVADA – For information for Nevada Seniors, visit the Division for Aging Services at http://aging.state.nv.us/. Phone: 702-486-3545 (Las Vegas).

NEW HAMPSHIRE - The Division of Elderly and Adult Services provides a variety of social and long-term supports to adults age 60 and older. For more information and related sites, visit http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DEAS/default.htm. Phone: 603-271-4680.

NEW JERSEY – For extensive information on senior services, long-term care, and benefits, pensions, and taxes, visit http://www.state.nj.us/Senior+Services.html.

NEW MEXICO – Visit the New Mexico State Agency on Aging at http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us/ for information on legal services, long-term care, safety issues particular to seniors, and links to other related agencies and services. Phone: 800-432-2080 (Santa Fe).

NEW YORK – Visit http://aging.state.ny.us/index.htm for information on programs and services available in New York State to help older New Yorkers and their families, and additional resource links. Senior Citizens' Hot Line: 800-342-9871.

NORTH CAROLINA – For information on senior centers, demographics, fraud alerts, long-term care options, housing, and much more, visit the North Carolina Division of Aging at http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/. Phone: 919-733-3983.

NORTH DAKOTA – Visit Aging Services at http://lnotes.state.nd.us/dhs/dhsweb.nsf/ServicePages/AgingServices. Phone: 701-328-8910.

OHIO – For a guide to information and resources for people over age 50, visit http://www.state.oh.us/Resident/FamilyandHealth/Over50.htm. For more links to services for Ohio senior citizens, visit Ohio's Association of Area Agencies on Aging at http://www.ohioaging.org/index.html. Phone: 614-481-3511

OKLAHOMA – Visit http://www.state.ok.us/?c=112&sc=131 for links to information on senior housing issues and a variety of resources, including tips to prevent fraud against the elderly, senior programs, and more.

OREGON – Visit http://www.dhs.state.or.us/seniors/ for links to information and resources related to aging, health care in the later years, receiving and providing caregiving services; how to get legal, housing, food and financial help. Oregon Department of Human Services Seniors and People with Disabilities Phone: 503-945-5811

PENNSYLVANIA – Visit the Department of Aging at http://www.aging.state.pa.us for information on programs and services for older Pennsylvanians, and quick links to related resources. Phone: 717-783-1550

RHODE ISLAND – For elderly population information, guide to home care services, and more, visit the Department of Elderly Affairs at http://www.dea.ri.gov/. Phone: 401-222-2858.

SOUTH CAROLINA – For aging resources, seniors services, and much more, visit the Bureau of Seniors Services at http://www.dhhs.state.sc.us/InsideDHHS/Bureaus/BureauofSeniorServices/default.htm. Phone: 803-898-2850.

SOUTH DAKOTA – For adult services, links, and resources, visit Adult Services & Aging at http://www.state.sd.us/social/ASA/index.htm. Phone: 605-773-3656 or 866-854-5465.

TENNESSEE – Visit the Commission on Aging & Disability for services and resources for older Tennesseans and their families at http://www.state.tn.us/comaging/. Phone: 615-741-2056.

TEXAS – The Texas Department on Aging contains information and resources for older Texas and their families. Visit http://www.tdoa.state.tx.us/. Phone: 800-252-9240 for more information and assistance.

UTAH – Visit the Division of Aging & Adult Services at http://www.hsdaas.utah.gov/default.htm. Phone: 801-538-3910.

VERMONT – For a guide to resources and services for older persons, visit the Department of Aging & Disabilities at http://www.dad.state.vt.us/. Phone: 802-241-2400.

VIRGINIA – SeniorNavigator provides free information about the health and aging resources available to Virginians, focusing on senior related issues such as health and aging, financial concerns, legal questions, health facilities, assisted living and housing, exercise programs, support groups and more. Visit http://seniornavigator.com/. Phone: 804-827-1280

WASHINGTON – For aging resources and services in your community, visit the Aging and Disability Services Administration at http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/default.htm. Phone: 800-422-3263.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – District of Columbia’s Office on Aging develops and institutes health, education, employment, and social services for District residents age 60 and older. For services and information, visit http://dcoa.dc.gov/main.shtm. Phone: 202-724-5622.

WEST VIRGINIA – For senior population data, provider agencies, and programs and services information, visit the Bureau of Senior Services at http://www.state.wv.us/seniorservices/. Phone: 304-558-3317.

WISCONSIN – Access a variety of information on programs and services in Wisconsin for older people and caregivers at http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/programs/elderly.htm. Link to state and national websites on aging at http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/aging/Genage/LINKSAGE.HTM.

WYOMING – Visit http://wdh.state.wy.us/aging/index.htm for information resources, seniors articles, links of interest to seniors, and more. Aging Division Phone: 800-442-2766

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Aug. 8, 2006 - Elder Abuse Website Links

Elder Abuse

National Center on Elder Abuse www.elderabusecenter.org

National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse www.preventelderabuse.org

Their list of national organizations in the field www.preventelderabuse.org/additional/organizations.html

Help for victims http://preventelderabuse.org/help/help.html

The Directory of Crime Victim Services http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices

American Psychological Assn www.apa.org/pi/aging/eldabuse.html

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Aug. 8, 2006 - REALTORS� With Special Training Provide Help to Older Clients

REALTORS® With Special Training Provide Help to Older Clients

Excerpt from the Los Angeles Times
By SUZANNE STAVINOHA, Special Advertising Sections Writer
Article Link: http://www.latimes.com/extras/newhomes/senior/story_04.html

You’ve lived in your home for 30 years. Now, the kids have grown and moved away, the neighborhood is changing and you’d like to move to a smaller home where you can enjoy an active retirement.

The problem is you’re not sure what your house is worth, you’re concerned about tax planning and you don’t know what your options are in terms of what or where to buy.

You might want to consider hiring a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES).

In 1998, the California-based Senior Advantage Real Estate Council (SAREC) became a national program designed to focus on the needs of buyers and sellers 50 and older. The council offers a special designation — SRES — to identify real estate agents who have completed its education program.

Basically, an SRES designee is trained to help seniors make wise decisions about selling the family home. He also offers knowledge about financing, buying or selling rental properties and managing capital gains. He also can explain current trends and opportunities for seniors in the housing market.

An SRES Realtor cannot give legal or tax advice. However, according to the council, designees are urged to maintain referral relationships with accountants and real estate attorneys so they can refer their clients to those professionals as needed.

Cynthia Radom, a Realtor in Coldwell Banker’s Beverly Hills South office, said she has found the SRES training valuable. She works with seniors, attorneys who are trustees for estates and children who have inherited family property.

While some of her clients are moving to find camaraderie or to be closer to kids, others need help finding assisted-living arrangements. Radom sees her role as an SRES as part counselor and part confidante, handling the details and informing her clients about all the options.

While the majority of Radom’s clients are the homeowners, she’s had a few cases where the clients were family members and her duties had to extend beyond the norm.

For example, when one 84-year-old man broke both his legs in a traffic accident here in Southern California, the man’s son had to fly in from Virginia to sell his father’s home and arrange for care in an assisted- living facility.

“Through her contacts, Cynthia helped me hire someone who specializes in moving the elderly from their homes into assisted living,” said the son, Brian Pfaffenberger. “She also found professionals to deal with my father’s personal possessions, file insurance claims and help clear out the house and get it ready for sale.”

Pfaffenberger said his concerns were eased when Radom arranged for a bedside advocate, an outside person who checks on his dad to make sure he is being well taken care of at the assisted-living facility.

“ I’m so thankful for the way it worked out,” he said.

While any licensed Realtor can handle a transaction, it is the wise senior who seeks out someone with experience in the 55-plus marketplace, according to Richard “Dick” Gaylord, the National Assn. of Realtors’ nominee for 2006 first vice president.

“It’s just like if you wanted to buy a house in Beverly Hills, you’d find someone who specializes in that neighborhood,” said Gaylord, a Realtor with Re/Max Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach. While he hasn’t taken the SRES course yet, Gaylord considers that type of specialized training to be an asset.

“There are so many factors particular to the seniors’ circumstance that they’ll be better off with a Realtor who is familiar with that terrain, whether or not that person has the SRES designation,” he said.

For Realtors like Jack McSweeney, the extra training has proven helpful. A Realtor with Re/Max Palos Verdes Realty, McSweeney took the SRES course two years ago in order to better understand how to help his older clients.

“If someone is entering into a real estate transaction at an older age, it’s for an important reason — they lost a spouse or they need to downsize,” he said. “This course helped me see all the things I need to be thinking about in order to really help these clients.”

McSweeney has found that oftentimes working with older clients is like working with first-time buyers.

“They haven’t had to buy or sell for 45 years,” he said, “and now, all of a sudden, they have to deal with all the new laws and red tape. When they bought their house, the contract may have been one page long. Now, it’s about 18 pages.”

While help with navigating the paperwork is one of the benefits seniors can realize with a trained SRES Realtor, another is finding out about recent laws and options that apply to seniors that might not apply to other property owners.

The Seniors Advantage Real Estate Council (SAREC) said it now has more than 8,000 SRES designees in all 50 states and Canada and adds hundreds of new members every month.

To find out more about SAREC, or to find an SRES Realtor in your area, call (800) 500-4564, or log onto www.seniorsrealestate.com.

Suzanne Stavinoha is a freelance writer based in Studio City.

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Hi, I'm Keith and I would like to welcome you to my website! I List and Sell real estate in Prince William County and Fauquier County. I provide helpful real estate information to my clients so that they can make important financial decisions regarding residential and commercial property investments. I am a Realtor�, E-Pro Certified, Senior Real Estate Specialist, and Commercial Specialist. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the next 12 months give me a call. I work for RE/MAX Olympic Realty in Prince William County and can be reached at (703) 754-4341 or on my cell at 540-272-9012 or, via E-mail at kelliott@comcast.net. Oh, by the way...I'm never too busy for any of your referrals.