Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Mar 7, 2023 | Mar - Apr 2023, Wisdoms
When Hiroko hired a healthcare agency to assist her in caring for her husband, she trusted that the company would provide her with caregivers who were responsible and professional. Unfortunately, this agency sent a “caregiver” who helped herself to Hiroko’s jewelry. This is only one of many cases of caregiver abuse handled by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, but it highlights the need for people to become aware of the risks involved when hiring a stranger as a caregiver.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jan 1, 2022 | January - February 2022, Wisdoms
I recently received a telephone call from my mother. Given that I was in a meeting, I didn’t answer it, but instead let it go to voicemail. Almost immediately, the phone started buzzing again from her same number. Usually, my mom would just leave a message, so this second call was very unusual. I excused myself from the meeting and answered the call. Mom immediately asked, “Scott, are you in jail?”
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jul 29, 2021 | August - September 2021, Wisdoms
In the dozen-plus years I have specialized in prosecuting elder financial fraud cases at the Prosecutor’s Office, it has become pretty easy for me to spot and disassemble how the majority of scams work. Like how a master chef can taste a dish and tell you the ingredients he tastes, I can smell a “business opportunity” or a get rich quick scheme and identify the individual parts of it that will reveal it to be an actual scam.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 4, 2021 | April - May 2021, Wisdoms
In a sympathy scam, a con artist plays on the victims’ emotions in order to extract money from them. Typically, you see a lot of these scams stemming from a tragedy that is highly publicized.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 1, 2021 | February - March 2021, Wisdoms
Recently, I received a call from a woman who wanted to report that her father had been the victim of theft. The culprit was her niece, who had taken over $100,000 over a three-year period. The caller had the evidence and her father now wanted to hold the niece accountable for what she had done. However, the only problem was that the crime was outside the statute of limitations.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 4, 2020 | Dec 2020 - Jan 2021, Wisdoms
When there are secrets within a family, it has been my experience that no good has ever come from them. Now, I am not talking about secrets that a family might keep from non-family members, such as, grandma is a witch and Uncle Joe has 12 toes, but secrets family members keep from each other.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 9, 2020 | October - November 2020, Wisdoms
In the last couple of months, I have had two people come to my office because they were not millionaires yet. You see, they each had won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes (PCH) and had not received their monies yet.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Aug 5, 2020 | August - September 2020, Wisdoms
As I indicated in the last issue, under Hawaii Revised Statute §514E-9, timeshare companies are required to give clients all information regarding the unit for purchase, including all the fees attributed to that unit that are due immediately and the “hidden” fees that require seemingly endless future payments — the monthly mortgage, property tax, maintenance fees and interest.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jun 4, 2020 | June-July 2020, Wisdoms
It’s not uncommon to see advertisements promoting timeshares, as well as promotions for timeshare cancellation programs. The contradictory nature of these ads begs certain questions:..
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Mar 28, 2020 | April - May 2020, Wisdoms
My wife loves free things. When we go to any expo at the Hawaii Convention Center or the Blaisdell, she’ll be the one hoarding free pens and reusable bags. So, I should not have been surprised when she stopped at a table run by a hotel chain that was offering a free dinner, six hours of validated parking in Waikīkī and a two-night stay at a hotel. According to the salesman, all we had to do was review a hotel from pictures they would show us. The whole process would take only 120 minutes (not two hours?).
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 4, 2020 | February - March 2020, Wisdoms
You would not place a welcome mat outside your car for criminals or hire someone to waive around a sign by your vehicle saying “steal this,” but that is exactly what many drivers do when they leave their keys in their vehicles. As a prosecutor, no crime gets me more upset than one that could have been easily prevented.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 7, 2019 | Dec 2019 - Jan 2020, Wisdoms
I was a guest on “Generations Radio,” AM 690, on Nov. 22, 2019 with Lt. John McCarthy of the Financial Crimes Unit of the Honolulu Police Department. The 39-year department veteran is nationally recognized as an expert in financial crimes and elder abuse. On the show, we discussed how scams go undetected because victims don’t recognize the warning signs of abuse. What follows are danger signals that should prompt further investigation…
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 4, 2019 | October - November 2019, Wisdoms
In the last year, Americans received about 5 billion robocalls per month, up from the 2 billion a month just two years ago. Robocalls are automated calls made by a computer program, enabling the telemarketer or scammer on the other end to call multitudes of phone numbers in a short span of time. It took me under five minutes of “Googling” to find a website and fill out a form to order robocalling software that I could use to dial hundreds of telephone numbers an hour.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Aug 2, 2019 | August - September 2019, Wisdoms
My office has received an increase in calls from parents, siblings or other relatives trying to kick an adult child out of their house. Often, the caller has already requested that the child leave, only to receive an adamant “no” from the unwelcome person. In one instance, a mother was selling the home that she loved to move into a small, one-bedroom apartment, hoping her son would not be allowed to live there.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | May 27, 2019 | June - July 2019, Wisdoms
The term “stealing home” is associated with baseball. It occurs when a runner is on third base and uses guile, speed and luck to make a dash for home plate to score a run. This usually happens when the runner takes advantage of the pitcher being distracted. In the Elder Abuse Unit, however, my team has come to know the term in a different context. We have seen situations when a homeowner literally has had their residence stolen.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 5, 2019 | April - May 2019, Wisdoms
It’s expensive living in paradise. It’s really expensive aging in paradise. Many seniors have had to resort to relying on the “cash economy” to help them out. “Cash economy” is the term used to refer to hiring or purchasing things“ under the table” or with cash so that there is no paper trail and therefore no taxes have to be paid.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 2, 2019 | February - March 2019, Wisdoms
It is only by knowing what is going on in our parents’ and grandparents’ lives that we can prevent certain abuses from occurring. Get involved and find out your loved one’s routine. Talk to them. Any deviation from their norm may be a warning sign to you that they are being targeted for a possible scam.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 2, 2018 | Dec 2018 Jan 2019, Wisdoms
When my father-in-law “Gramps” had a stroke, he spent time at the hospital, rehab, and then a nursing home, before finally being able to return to his house. During those months of recovery away from home, my family made every effort to visit him daily. Between my wife, brother-in-law, mother-in-law and myself, we were pretty successful in making sure he would have the company of a loved one every day.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Sep 27, 2018 | October - November 2018, Wisdoms
If I were to open a crime college, a place to learn the fine art of thievery, one class that would assuredly be on the curriculum would be Advance Fee Frauds, commonly known as sweepstakes and lottery frauds. This con involves the victim being told the lie that money is coming their way (usually from lottery winnings, insurance refunds or inheritance) but a fee/tax/processing charge has to be paid first to receive it. This one scheme is responsible for more money being stolen in Hawai‘i than any other crime.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jul 29, 2018 | August - September 2018, Wisdoms
“What does a con artist look like?” The answers I receive are oftentimes humorous. Descriptions of used car salesmen and politicians are shouted out, with visuals of “shifty eyes,” bad toupees, rapid speech, and loud aloha shirts added in for effect.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | May 20, 2018 | June - July 2018, Wisdoms
I have been with the Prosecutor’s Office now for over 22 years, and 10 years ago created the Elder Abuse Unit. This unit was the first (and still is the only) team in Hawai‘i dedicated to prosecuting felony offenses where the victims were 60 years of age or older.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 11, 2018 | April - May 2018, Wisdoms
Recently, I took my youngest daughter to the Punahou Carnival, where waiting in line for the adult rides she has now graduated to is sometimes 40 minutes. As we were getting close to the front, I noticed four young adults walk several feet in front of us and stand in...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 2, 2018 | February - March 2018, Wisdoms
On average, I get one to three calls a day from the public seeking advice about elder abuse. Fortunately, only about 20 percent of the calls involve matters needing my office’s involvement. The rest are from people that see “elder abuse” in our name and hope we can help with their situation.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 2, 2017 | Dec 2017 - January 2018, Wisdoms
In the October/November issue of Generations Magazine, I explained that it is better to make a logical and legal argument against someone being a winner of a lottery, as opposed to showing them they are a victim of a lottery scam. The following facts prove that you...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 1, 2017 | October - November 2017, Wisdoms
Over the years, I have spoken to countless people who believed they had won the lottery. They told me on the phone that they knew it was the real thing or they stopped by my office to show me letters, emails, credit cards or business checks proving they had struck it...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jul 26, 2017 | Aug-Sept 2017, Wisdoms
By Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney In the last two issues of the magazine, I shared the lessons about elder abuse that I learned from the experiences of my mother-in-law, “Mary.” As I have mentioned before, tragedies are the fuel for many a con and...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jun 7, 2017 | June-July 2017, Living Life, Wisdoms
In the last issue, I covered the lessons my mother-in-law, “Mary,” taught me through her encounters with various scam artists she has met over the years. Unfortunately, those incidents were only the tip of the iceberg.
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 11, 2017 | April – May 2017, Wisdoms
It wasn’t the mainland trainings or the thousands of cases I have handled that have given me the greatest insights into elder abuse. No. The best “teacher” I have had regarding dealing with the complexity and emotional stress of dealing with these crimes has been...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jan 26, 2017 | February - March 2017, Wisdoms
Over the years, we’ve covered the devastating effects of fake lotteries that have resulted in Hawai‘i seniors losing millions of dollars (even their homes); the distressed relative scam (more commonly referred to as the “Grandma Scam”); sweetheart swindles/sham...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 2, 2016 | December – January 2017, Wisdoms
When Terry discovered his home had been burglarized, the frustration of having to replace his valuables paled in comparison to the feelings of being violated. Then, several nights later, someone entered his garage and stole his car. What Terry didn’t realize was that...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 1, 2016 | October - November 2016, Wisdoms
Hiring Strangers as Caregivers by Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from the Oct-Nov 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Aug 1, 2016 | August - September 2016, Wisdoms
Drive-By Victims: Homeless Seniors by Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from the August-September 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jun 1, 2016 | June - July 2016, Wisdoms
Stop Being an Easy Victim by Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from the June-May 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 1, 2016 | April - May 2016, Articles, Wisdoms
Pope Francis recently said, “Be careful! Beware of someone who is sly or sneaky who tells you that you need to pay. Salvation cannot be bought.” He was warning us that scam artists use faith as a source of income. We must always be on guard against people that use...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 1, 2016 | Articles, February - March 2016, Wisdoms
I It’s difficult to believe that anyone would take advantage of our aloha spirit. Unfortunately, the Prosecutor’s Office has seen an increase in cases of friendly strangers who turn out to be con artists preying on seniors. Edith (not her real name) was walking...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 1, 2015 | Articles, December - January 2016, Wisdoms
Earlier, I wrote about a woman from Waianae, who added her daughter to her bank account. The daughter was to use the money to pay contractors to remodel the mother’s home. This money was solely the mother’s, but instead of helping the mother, the daughter helped...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 1, 2015 | Articles, October - November 2015, Wisdoms
With Thanksgiving approaching, we are reminded to be appreciative of what we have; oftentimes, this leads to opening up our hearts (and wallets) to those in need. Unfortunately, there are those who would use dishonesty to profit from a giving heart. Earlier this year...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 1, 2015 | Articles, October - November 2015, Wisdoms
With Thanksgiving approaching, we are reminded to be appreciative of what we have; oftentimes, this leads to opening up our hearts (and wallets) to those in need. Unfortunately, there are those who would use dishonesty to profit from a giving heart. Earlier this year...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Aug 1, 2015 | Articles, August - September 2015, Wisdoms
In the movie Ghostbusters, when someone needed help with anything paranormal (ghosts, demons … or maybe even night marchers), there was only one number to call — Ghostbusters! Unfortunately, when a person suspects fraud or financial scams going on, there are a...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jun 1, 2015 | Articles, June - July 2015, Wisdoms
Wanda (not her real name) took out a home equity loan on her Waianae house. She intended to renovate her home so that her adult daughter could move in, care for Wanda and help repay the loan. Once the $290,000 was in their joint checking account, however, her daughter...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 1, 2015 | April - May 2015, Articles, Wisdoms
When it comes to love and relationships, we are particularly protective of our elders. We scrutinize new companions who come into their lives; when our kupuna decide to marry, we get concerned about the new partner’s intentions. Stephanie (not her real name) called my...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 1, 2015 | Articles, February - March 2015, Wisdoms
For hours, Elaine (not her real name), age 69, sat on the lanai of her Pearl City townhouse waiting. She was told that at any moment, the governor was going to arrive and present her with a new car and a check for $2 million. During this time, her adult son was...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 1, 2014 | Articles, December - January 2015, Wisdoms
Recently, I appeared on the Generations Radio Show (Saturdays from 5 to 6 pm on AM 690) aired November 22 and can be heard at www.Generations808.com) with Lt. John McCarthy of the Financial Crimes Unit of the Honolulu Police Department. With 39 years of police...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 1, 2014 | Articles, October - November 2014, Wisdoms
You love your family and you are good at your job. This does not mean, however, you will make a good caregiver for a loved one. Being an accomplished professional, expert or an akamai homemaker does not prepare you for the sudden responsibility of a full time...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Aug 1, 2014 | Articles, August - September 2014, Wisdoms
Hawaii has the largest number of Homeowner’s Associations (HOA) per capita than other state. In these structured communities, residents agree when purchasing their homes to follow certain rules to ensure a certain quality of life is maintained for residents. They pay...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Jun 1, 2014 | Articles, June - July 2014, Wisdoms
The Fourth of July is the cornerstone of summer. It is a date where families will get together; BBQ’s will occur; and fireworks will be watched. Memories of our youth will resurface, and stories of our nation’s birth will be told. Independence Day being on Friday this...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Apr 1, 2014 | April - May 2014, Articles, Wisdoms
Financial abuse of seniors oftentimes goes unreported. Studies have estimated that as few as 1 in 30 cases are brought to the attention of authorities. There are many reasons why these matters don’t get reported. The two main reasons for none reporting are: the abuser...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Feb 1, 2014 | Articles, February - March 2014, Wisdoms
Fear has always been a tool criminals use to get money from others. Whether it is created by holding a weapon to a cashier to get their compliance, or simply using a verbal threat against someone on the street to make him/her surrender their wealth, a robber wants his...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Dec 1, 2013 | Articles, December - January 2014, Wisdoms
When Betty Lau (victim’s name changed) of Kaimuki opened her mail, she could not believe how lucky she was to find out that she won the $3-million Australian Lottery. The official looking letter explained that an unnamed company bought her a ticket as a promotional...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Oct 1, 2013 | Articles, October - November 2013, Wisdoms
When May Lee (victim’s name changed) hired Susan Chin to be her caregiver, it seemed like the perfect solution to her long-term care needs. Over time, however, when Chin gained Lee’s trust, she slowly gained access to Lee’s finances and convinced her to sign a “power...
Scott Spallina, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney | Aug 1, 2013 | Articles, August - September 2013, Wisdoms
An elderly man was in the gym working out with his trainer when they saw an attractive young woman enter the workout area and begin to exercise. The older man asked his trainer what machine he should use to impress the young woman. The trainer replied he should use...