Senior spotlight, vol.8 no.4

              Keep Active As You Age
2
Healthy You
3
Social Security
4
Senior Fun Day & Wellness Fair
5
Mark Your Cal-endar
6
Pull-Apart Ribs Recipe
6
Ombudsman Corner
7
Volume 8, Issue 4
First Quarter 2012
Inside this issue:
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
KEDDO Area Agency on Aging
Utility Bill Scam
Area Agency
on Aging Staff
Kim Rose
Director
Samantha Humphreys
Information and
Assistance Coordinator
Sueann Deela
Bookkeeper/Planner
Renee Johnson
Ombudsman Supervisor
Shawnna Nixon
Ombudsman Supervisor
BE AWARE
The Better Business Bureau says that a new utility bill scam is popping up throughout the U.S. and Canada. It involves an approach to get people to part with their money that's been growing in popularity over the past couple of years: pre-paid debit cards.
Scammers are calling people and claiming to work for a local electric, water or gas company. The callers tell people that they're late on a utility bill and that their ser-vice will be cut off if they don't pay immediately. Then they instruct people to pur-chase a prepaid debit card to pay their bill and call them back with the card num-ber. Thieves then drain the value from the card.
Scammers have turned to prepaid debit cards recently because wire transfer ser-vices (Western Union and Money Gram) have increased their fraud detection sys-tems -- making it more difficult for them to use this once-popular method of steal-ing money from people. Scammers also like prepaid debit cards because they don't have to show a photo ID to collect or spend money on the cards.
Tips for spotting a utility scam:
It's a red flag if you are asked to pay by prepaid debit card. Utility companies usu-ally accept a check or credit card. If you pay with a prepaid debit card, the transac-tion cannot be reversed.
Watch out for high-pressure tactics, such as threats to cut off your service unless you make an immediate payment. End the call then call the customer service num-ber on your utility bill to ensure that you speak with a real representative.
If someone comes to your home claiming to be from your utility company, ask for identification. Do not let the person in your home if you did not schedule a service appointment. Look outside and see if a utility vehicle is parked outside. Call the utility company to confirm that it sent someone to your home.
REMEMBER, SCAMNOT…
Source: alerts@scamnot.com
Look for our newsletter on the KEDDO website at www.keddo.org under the Programs tab then click on Area Agency on Aging.
Spelling Bee
2
KANP Award
2
Healthy You
3
Senate Bill 587
4
Senate Bill 587 (cont.)
5
Mark Your Cal-endar
6
Recipe
6
Ombudsman Corner
7