Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. The recent events in our world have made me very suspicious about so many things. I hear about scams and wonder if there are things seniors should be aware of in our community.
A. It is a sad fact that we must all be diligent about unscrupulous activity in our world today. And yes, even in our own community. I personally stay informed of the many scams in our area by being an active member of the Elgin TRIAD. This organization has a huge presence in Kane county and keeps its members informed of various scams in the area. It is a partnership which involves Elgin Township, community seniors, law enforcement(sheriff/police), and support/protective services. So, what can you do to keep yourself from becoming a victim? Education is key, but more importantly if you have a suspicious feeling about a piece of mail, a phone call, or a knock on your door, it is important to verify its authenticity. Ask for credentials or proof of identification, and never feel embarrassed about calling the proper authorities. Offers that sound too good to be true usually are. Some other, more recent scams involve calls pertaining to the Affordable Care Act, the IRS, Microsoft calling to remove a virus from your computer, or personal mail stating you are entitled to a large sum of money. Please be aware! The IRS or Microsoft would never call you. If you are ever suspicious about mail fraud, bring the item you received to your local postmaster. They will investigate the item in question. If any other matter crosses your path, contact your local police department. They are your advocates. Your local police department may even have an Elderly Service Officer on staff who works on the behalf of the elderly population. The goal in all of this is awareness and your safety.
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
