During my 30 years in law enforcement, it was one of my greatest frustrations simply because the fraud continues to take victims, and it is so hard to convict those responsible for this type of crime.

To add insult to injury, the scam artists, more often than not, go after the elderly and seem to get money with such ease.

You’ve all been a victim. You’ve received the card that says “You have already won one of the following prizes. Please call a certain number.”

Some of these are legitimate solicitations. But if you call and are asked to send money of any amount in order to claim your prize, immediately terminate the call and notify law enforcement officials.

Another example would be if you are at home and the phone rings and the caller says “Mrs. Smith you are a winner! Are you sitting down? You are receiving a wonderful opportunity” Then the caller leads you on and on. A scam artist will try anything you can imagine to get your money.
Why do people continue to fall victim? There is one word that sums it up…“greed.”

Everyone has heard of someone receiving a windfall. We all desperately want to believe it has finally happen to us. Recently a lady called me and said “Jim, why would they do this to me? I’m a good Christian person.”

They always go after good, honest, trusting people because they are the easiest to con. As soon as they hear that hesitation in your voice that maybe you are starting to believe them, they set the hook. I have dealt with so many victims, particularly the elderly, that have given their life savings and all of their pension money to a scam artist.

What saddens me most is that many smart people do not believe others when they are told they are being scammed.

A young man I greatly respect told me he was wiring $500 to a man who needed that sum to complete the purchase of a classic car that was worth 5 times the $19,000 asking price. My exact words to him were “You will absolutely, positively, unequivocally lose your money.” He felt it was worth the risk. You guessed it, the money is gone. He accepts it and is working with law enforcement. Believe me the scam artist is long gone.

Even more unfortunate, a lady reaching senior status told me she sent away $15,000 of her hard earned money she had set aside for her retirement. She truly believed the scam artist and the windfall he promised her.