Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • October 9, 2013 Area Protecting seniors: Safeguarding identity & finances Fraud against seniors is on the rise. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants is making an effort to help seniors understand the types of fraud that exist and the steps they can take to prevent fraud. While there are many different types of fraud, three types are occurring more frequently: Most people don’t know their identity has been stolen until unexplained charges appear on credit cards or their bank accounts have been emptied. With the last four digits of a Social Security number, a scammer can open a new credit card account, apply for loans, access bank accounts, and illegally obtain professional licenses, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. Criminals obtain personal informa- tion by stealing mail, going through trash, calling on the phone, or sending a form in the mail asking for personal information, sending e-mails that link to a website (known as phishing), or swiping credit cards. • Never give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet. Village, executive cut deal on flyers Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn said he and North Jersey Media Group Chief Executive Officer Steven Borg had worked out an arrangement that could reduce unwanted free advertising newspapers thrown on driveways, side- walks, and lawns. Residents had suggested that Ridgewood ban the free newspapers, which do not generally include news, but are limited to paid advertising and coupons. Mayor Aronsohn said his telephone conversations with Borg led to a compromise. The free newspapers would be delivered only after 9 a.m., and the telephone numbers to “opt out” would be more prominently displayed, so resi- dents who do not want the bagged flyers can ask that their houses not be targeted for delivery. The “opt out” telephone number will also be displayed on the Village of Ridgewood website. The issue of having unwanted ad flyers thrown on sidewalks and lawns had been discussed at several coun- cil meetings. Council members originally concurred that the papers and the method of delivery were often annoy- ing, and a wholesale ban was widely supported. However, the fact that the ad flyers are printed by a corporation that owns 40 newspapers, including most of those that cover the greater Ridgewood area, raised concerns about a constitu- tional issue and possible litigation. J. KOSTER • Shred all financial documents, bank statements, sen- sitive mail, credit card applications, and documents con- taining any type of personal information. • Keep a close eye on credit cards at stores or restau- rants. Destroy old or unused cards. • Don’t let anyone copy your driver’s license. • Use a locked mailbox or a post office box. Have any checks delivered to a bank or post office box instead of a home address. • Take mail to the post office instead of leaving it for the mail carrier to collect. In health care fraud, a scammer misuses a medical card, fabricates treatment, and gets paid for it. Another type of health care fraud involves finding a senior in need of medical supplies, obtaining his or her Medicare card number, and using it to make claims or to receive health care services or equipment. • Never sign blank insurance claim forms. • Never give blanket authorization to a medical pro- vider to bill for services. • Ask medical providers what they will charge, and get clarification on out-of-pocket expenses. • Carefully review benefits statements from insurers. Call insurers or providers with any questions or if a state- ment does not seem correct. • Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who say their medical services or equipment are free. • Give insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided medical services. • Keep accurate records of all health care appoint- ments. • Review statements received from CMS (the Medicare administrator) to make sure all payments it made were for bona fide medical expenses incurred on your behalf. Report any discrepancies to CMS. There are several widely-used financial scams. Fraud- sters can pretend to be a grandchild who needs money, offer bogus insurance policies or investments, offer home improvements that are never completed, or collect for non- existent charities. Fraud can occur over the phone, at the front door, at the mall, or online. • Don’t buy from unfamiliar companies. • Don’t be pressured into buying something. • Get all information in writing, whether it’s an invest- ment, a charity, or a product. Ask for contact information. Give the information to a trustworthy person for a second (continued on page 18)