Tag: Scams

  • Overcoming Securities Fraud

    Only one out of every 44 cases of financial abuse among the elderly ever gets reported and even fewer make it to trial. This is the true story of one of those cases.

  • Tips for Buying Medications Online

    Purchasing medication and even filling prescriptions online can be a risky process, but the chances of being victimized can be greatly reduced by taking a few necessary precautions. Avoid email scams Try not to respond to email “spam.” But if you are inclined to do so, do your research to see how reputable the company…

  • Adding up Elder Abuse Numbers

    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.

  • Making the Call for Help

    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. 

  • Sign Language Videos and Email Scams

    Q I heard there is a Social Security video available in American Sign Language. Where can I find it? A Yes, it’s true. The video is called “Social Security, SSI and Medicare: What You Need to Know About These Vital Programs.” The video is available in American Sign Language and presents important information about our…

  • Part III: Sounds Too Good to Be True?

    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 when my father-in-law had his stroke, my family nearly…

  • Home Healthcare: Buyer Beware

    By Eileen Phillips, RN, Attention Plus Care Life is full of choices as a consumer. We try to make informed choices but sometimes getting there takes a bit of experience and know-how. Online product or service reviews are helpful at times but can mean different things to different people based on experience. The same can…

  • Lotteries & Sweepstakes: You’re Not That Lucky

    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 program and the enclosed Gold Credit Card from VISA contained…

  • Better Business Bureau: Tax and Scams

    This time of year, fliers, yard signs, emails and other advertisements offering tax preparation assistance and promising bigger, faster refunds are popping up everywhere. When you alone are ultimately responsible for the information on your tax returns, how do you separate the professionals from the scammers? Over the past few years seniors have become prime…

  • Wire Fraud

    How money coming in is actually going out Western Union, Moneygram and similar businesses allow you to send money quickly. Their services are useful for transmitting funds to friends, relatives and others you know well. But scammers frequently take advantage of victims by convincing them to wire money to a stranger, often someone in a…