Sweetheart Scams Alive and Well

By Stan Oklobdzija - Bee Staff Writer

A love affair with an alleged con artist has left a Rancho Cordova man not only heartbroken, but plain old broke as well.

Carl Miller, 77, is in the hole more than $200,000 after falling victim to a classic "sweetheart" scam, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

In the course of a 2 1/2-year relationship, Miller refinanced his home to help him provide cash and gifts, including a car, to a woman who's either 36 or 37 years old, said Sgt. Micki Links, head of the sheriff's elder abuse and sex assault units.

Miller met the woman in the parking lot of a Rancho Cordova bank around January 2005, Links said.

"She starts right off with telling him she's very upset (because) creditors are after her," Links said. "(Then) she brings her kid around and starts working him."

Miller declined to comment for this article, saying he'd been advised not to speak about the case until the Sheriff's Department completes its investigation.

The sweetheart scam is a modern variation of an age-old ruse.

Links said younger women stake out places where they might find elderly men. Sometimes it's the bank where they can overhear them make a deposit or withdrawal, she said. Other times they'll scan the obituaries to find men whose wives have recently passed away.

The Phoenix Police Department maintains a Web site detailing the ins and outs of the sweetheart scam.

Once a scammer spots a potential mark, she'll try to figure out his financial situation through casual conversation, the site says. Then the scammer will exchange phone numbers with the victim.

The scammer will start calling or start showing up at the victim's place, according to the site. She'll usually present a tale of woe, escalating it each time to extract more money from the victim.

"Health issues, their family, they need money for tests, cancer, sending money to the home country," said Links, rattling off a list of popular lies.

Often, the money collected is sent to a waiting husband and children, Links said.

Links said Sacramento's elderly population gets its fair share of sweetheart scams.

Links said the suspect or suspects in this case are part of a criminal subculture of ethnic Roma. Commonly known as Gypies, the Roma are a nomadic people found throughout the world.

"We get them in spurts," she said. "(The women) live together and trade notes. A lot of them know each other through the clans."

Sometimes sweetheart scammers will go as far as marrying their victims. One surefire sign it's a scam marriage, Links said, is the lack of sexual relations.

"They get married in a civil ceremony and there's never a consummation," she said.

Nils Grevillius, a private investigator who splits his time between Pasadena and Des Moines, Iowa, said he has handled a few cases involving the Roma community.

Any non-clan member is known as a "Gajo," in the Roma language, he said.

"A female can't have sex with a Gajo," he explained. "She'd be 'marime' or impure."

Links said her detectives are still working on Miller's case. Unfortunately, it's part of a backlog of many elder abuse cases on her plate, she said.

"The sad part is that these victims are lonely," she said. "It's not so much about a romantic relationship, it's about companionship and someone to talk to. ... Then, thousands of dollars later, they realize they've been duped."

Siblings Plead Guilty to Elder Abuse

MASON, Ky - A Mason brother and sister both pleaded guilty Oct. 9 in the Warren County Common Pleas Court to not properly caring for their 63-year-old disabled father.

Shelia Gray, 40, and Shawn Gray, 37, were each charged with one count of failing to provide for a functionally impaired person, a fourth degree felony.

An emergency medical squad responded to a call for assistance on May 17 at a residence in Mason to find the victim with bedsores on his body and extremely poor hygiene.

The victim was wheechair-bound and dependent on his children for his care.

The defendants face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Sentencing will occur in approximately 30 days.

Forced Guardianships of the Vulnerable and the Elderly Must Stop

Another form of abuse and exploitation is the forced guardianships of the vulnerable and the elderly. Guardians and their attorneys routinely force their victims into nursing homes so they can sell off personal and real property converting to cash then bill, bill and over bill the estate. Many victims lose everything while the guardians and their attorneys enrich themselves with the assets. Victims are often isolated and neglected while being robbed of lifelong earnings. Robin Westmiller wrote "Blood Taste Lousy with Scotch", a book about guardian abuse that took place in the state of Florida. Please visit the National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse at http://www.stopguardianabuse,org/ for more information about guardianship abuse.

Elder Abuse Victims And Their Families are Further Humiliated

Clara's Social security income $1859.00

.................................... Guardian Fees $1,800.00

Clara bank account where the utilities where being paid out from on automatic pay are now being returned for her bank account is now empty and has been closed. The credit line that Clara used is now late (after 1st) and accumulating late fees and penalty fees.

The Victims families receives no respect, their dignity is taken away from them, they are humiliated.

And yet some wonder why small percentages of elder abuse cases are actually reported, in thinking back all that we have endured and now with the forced guardianship program that takes away my mother's only hope for survival in her home is being taken away for the guardians benefit.

The Scourge of Elder Abuse by Family Members is Rising

The media are replete with stories of domestic abuse, child abuse, drug abuse…even animal abuse. But there is another kind of abuse that garners very little attention, abuse that afflicts millions of Americans. It’s elder abuse—a problem that few people want to talk about or even acknowledge.

Sadly, approximately 90 percent of the abusers are family members: children abusing elderly parents...

The latest survey of Adult Protective Services reports that abuse is on the rise, up by nearly 20 percent from 2000. Most victims are white, 66 percent are women and 43 percent are 80 years old or older. Types of abuse include physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Financial abuse, neglect and abandonment are also growing problems.

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, said, “Our nation has for far too long turned its back on the shame of elder abuse.”

abridged for E.A. >>

The Reason Clara's Previous,Guardian Quit is an "F" Word

that spells "Frustration". Angela McClain , Clara's best friend knew how thrifty Clara was , Clara never bounced a check in her life, Clara was never late in paying her taxes her credit was beyond spotless, and to see her friends billed thousands months on end with out results led Angela to question which side the attorneys were working for ?

This frustration led Angela and myself to dismiss the guardian attorneys and hire H & H .

Now fast forward from January to September 2007 , eight (8) months go by and to Angela, perhaps Clara is not getting her money's worth when eight months go by and nothing happens in the way of having Clara's assets returned to her so that the money can be used for that purpose for which it was intended.

In the face of such massive frustration Angela McClain was thrust out of the picture...

Now this brings some new questions, with the principal, guardian Angela McClain gone, how did the guardian's attorney perpetuate himself in power ?


December 4th. 2006
xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx Kennedy Drive
Suite xxx
Key West, FL 33040

Re: Clara Fernandez Guardianship

Dear (Attorney) Mr. xxxxx:

This letter is to advise you that I want you to inform and include Raul Fernandez, Clara'`s. son, in regards to Guardianship matters including any and all decisions which are made in regard to the litigation. Also, I want you to inform not only Raul but xxxxxxx.,the family attorney. Any decisions must be with my approval.

I understand that a Motion to Vacate The Orders which were entered on November 20, 2006 was agreed to without my consent. Ms. xxxx of your firm had assured me that if the decision went against Clara. Attorney xxxx would insist on setting a date for a new hearing. I have heard nothing in regards to this, and as stated previously was not informed of the Motion To Vacate, nor conferred with prior to that decision.

Having lost a great deal of confidence in xxxxxx. I can only wonder who she really is representing . Clara has paid your firm Ten Thousand Dollars to date . and has literally nothing to show for it. Please advise if and when a re-hearing is scheduled.

Sincerely
Angela L. McClain

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Ten Thousand Americans are Turning 60 every 24-Hours

NEEDHAM, MA, October 4, 2007 - Ten thousand Americans are turning 60 every 24-hours. The threat of financial fraud targeting this population is increasing given the large proportion of investable assets owned by this fast-growing demographic segment. Legislators and regulators aFormal tracking of elder abuse in the United States by the National Council on Aging and other agencies finds that financial exploitation is as significant and damaging as other types of abuse.


Unlike physical abuse, from which a victim can often fully recover once the abuse is put to a stop, financial fraud can result in permanent damage - that is, the loss of the victim's financial independence at a time where he or she has no means of rebuilding a retirement nest egg.re beginning to require that financial institutions take special steps to protect these customers.


Read Regulators Turn Attention To Stemming Financial Abuse Of The Elderly >>

It's Something That Just Can't Be Swept Under The Carpet."

Business Matters by P.H. Harston .- Parents are living longer and their care costs are rising and raising young children is as hectic as it ever was.

And then there's a new trend, according to T.E. Wealth's senior vice-president Sam Chinniah.
Chinniah, whose company is a financial consultancy and wealth management firm with offices across the country, says he's seeing a rise in elder abuse and intra-family squabbles as the Sandwich Generation grows.

"It's happening more and more often and it's disturbing. It's something that just can't be swept under the carpet."

INHERITANCE
Family fights run the gamut, from arguing over who gets to -- or has to -- look after mom or dad, to why there isn't any inheritance left after mom and dad are buried, to who should be in charge of assets to ensure one sibling doesn't run off with the "loot."

The abuse ranges from elderly parents not being given enough money with which to properly live to one or both not being looked after properly in their children's homes to theft of assets and worse.

Abridged >>

Family Meeting Called to Discuss take-over by Clara's Guardian and his Attorney.

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Letters from Readers

J Thorne said...

It is very disturbing to read this heart-wrenching story of Dr Fernandez and Clara.
I think enough is enough. Politicians, social workers etc. You are supposed to look after the interests of citizens.

It is UNJUST to see the hard-earned money of this couple "eaten up" by law firms and the IRS tax department.

PLEASE STOP THIS HORRIBLE SAGA IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING!

Jon Thorne

reprint

The Law on Exploitation-Florida

A person convicted of exploiting an elder can face prison time.

Exploiting the elderly or disabled by taking $100,000 or more from them is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Exploiting them out of $20,000-$100,000 is a second-degree felony that carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence. Exploiting them in an amount less than $20,000 is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Anyone who knowingly fails to report a case of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, or who knowingly prevents another person from doing so, commits a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail.
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Florida does have a law against Elder Exploitation and if it were to be enforced this is what it says

"Where Is My Money?"

Clara's story is just one story out of the many elders throughout the nation.

Elders who planned meticulously for their old age and now find that their funds are not available to them for simple items such as food, clothing, utilities, travel or entertainment, instead, she will undoubtedly out-live her assets, and her assets will be used for the benefit of others outside the family primarily, "The Guardianship Program", that's been forced down the throats of her family and caregivers.

The caregivers are family members who have cared for Clara and her husband Dr. Fernandez for numerous years with an excellent record of loving and caring for each other and most of all, for Clara must now rely on the whims of a guardian who has never spoken with Clara personally and just doesn't seem to understand what is at stake here .

The same family members whose hands are now tied in making the most basic decisions regarding her living arrangements, and ensuring that all of her special dietary needs are met.