Prayers Needed - Elder Scan Victiom

Lazy J · #1 02/15/13, 05:48 AM

I know that most ofthe people here think that I am just a Troll for my stance on defending certain things, but I hope that I can solicit a few prayers of support for my Mother.

My sister and I learned last night that my elderly mother is the victim of an elaborate Elder Fraud Scheme. Over the last four months she has wired almost $250,000 to a bank in Costa Rica for three lawyers that were "working hard to get your money" from a bank there. In that time she went from a retired professional living a good, secure retirmement to one with $145 in her checking account and facing the prospect of mortgaging family farms that have been in our family since the 1860's.

Needless to say my sister and I will be busy the next few days trying to get her life back in order which will not be a fun process.

Jim

Rocktown Gal · #2 02/15/13, 05:57 AM

I'm sorry this has happened to your mother...Prayers being sent that all works out for your mother.

wally · #3 02/15/13, 06:21 AM

pray that this will work out for your famly

Minelson · #4 02/15/13, 06:27 AM

That is horrible! I am so sorry

Sending prayers

Madame · #5 02/15/13, 06:35 AM

Prayers said.

Laura Zone 5 · #6 02/15/13, 06:45 AM

I am so sorry.
My grammy was scammed too :-(
Praying for you today.

pattycake · #7 02/15/13, 06:50 AM

You all have my prayers. This is so sad.

solidwoods · #8 02/15/13, 07:05 AM

FBI

jim

Allen W · #9 02/15/13, 08:05 AM

I'm sorry to hear that.

DebbieLynn · #10 02/15/13, 09:53 AM

Prayers sent. Hope you and your sister are able to help your Mom and save her from getting any further down a very deep hole.

Macybaby · #11 02/15/13, 10:05 AM

This is something people with elderly parents need to watch for.

Usually the FIRST sign of dementia and things like that is poor financial decisions. So by the time you think Mom/Dad might not be making the best decisions, it's likely they have been making poor financial decisions for a while.

Common Tator · #12 02/15/13, 10:29 AM

I'm so sorry that yourMom got scammed. That is horrible.

sisterpine · #13 02/15/13, 10:59 AM

Please give your mom a hug from me. I am so sorry she got hurt by this criminal. You are all in my prayers as you sort this out. sis

grandma12703 · #14 02/15/13, 11:15 AM

I'm sorry this happened.

Tracy Rimmer · #15 02/15/13, 11:22 AM

I *DO NOT* understand how people can fall for this stuff?!?! I mean, seriously, do people really think that some stranger left them money? Do they think that they're the winner of a lottery they never entered?

It breaks my heart that elderly people are often the focus of this sort of thing, but I also find it hard to understand how people fall for it?

Your mom is in my thoughts, LazyJ -- Perhaps as others have said, it's time to look at her daily care, if she's a retired professional, one assumes she must be suffering from some level of dementia or decline to have fallen for something like this -- and the people who victimized her ought to be shot.

Joshie · #16 02/15/13, 11:53 AM

Jim, I am so sorry. Please go to the bank and get control of her money so that she no longer has the ability to give people money. You and your family will probably have to start paying her bills if you do that but it sounds as if she can no longer handle her money safely. Once you're scammed, the word gets around and more people will try to scam you. At church Wednesday, a lady was saying much the same thing. She said she donated money to charity and now everybody is contacting, asking for money.

My mom is a retired RN and she nearly fell for the 'call from your oldest grandson to get out of jail' scam. If Western Union hadn't told her it was a scam she may have sent the money.

Harry Chickpea · #17 02/15/13, 11:54 AM

Wonder how much it costs to hire a hit man in Costa Rica?

grandma12703 · #18 02/15/13, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracy Rimmer

I *DO NOT* understand how people can fall for this stuff?!?! I mean, seriously, do people really think that some stranger left them money? Do they think that they're the winner of a lottery they never entered?

It breaks my heart that elderly people are often the focus of this sort of thing, but I also find it hard to understand how people fall for it?

Your mom is in my thoughts, LazyJ -- Perhaps as others have said, it's time to look at her daily care, if she's a retired professional, one assumes she must be suffering from some level of dementia or decline to have fallen for something like this -- and the people who victimized her ought to be shot.

My grandfather is 94 and always sending money to things because in his mind he is important or they wouldn't ask for it. We can't seem to get him to understand that he has gotten himself on a list and because he is elderly they target him. I was able to send an expensive cell back to A T & T when he brought it to my house and said he didn't know why he got it. I called them and they had talked to him via his landline and he agreed to purchasing the phone and a very large plan. (He doesn't use a cell phone) My mother died a few years ago and she was an only child so that left my sister and I. He fell last summer and I tried to talk to him about going to a retirement home (not nursing home). Well after that, without my knowledge he went and had a stipulation that my sister is in charge of his stuff if he becomes unable to handle his finances. He knows she could care less....probably been to his home once in 15 years. I called her after his fall and subsequent spending the evening at the ER as they were sewing his half tore off ear back on and she said there was nothing we could do if he didn't want to do it. So......he got his way. There really is nothing more I can do either.

I just want to point out as well that the elderly folks in our lives grew up in a different world. It was a world where a handshake was all it took to close a deal. You didn't worry that everyone around you was trying to cheat you. Now it seems like when I try to tell my grandfather that he thinks I am the one trying to get to him even though I have never taken anything from him. He thinks I don't know what I am talking about.

wanda1950 · #19 02/15/13, 12:46 PM

Praying for you.

Chief Cook · #20 02/15/13, 12:53 PM

Lazy J, so sorry this has happened to your mother. Prayers for all of you. It is so hard for our elderly parents and all of us grown children trying to take care of them. I think their finances and day to day living questions are the hardest. You want to protect them, but you don't want to make them feel like they can't take care of themselves. So far so good with my DF. I hope something can be done to help her, I hope you have contacted the FBI. Good luck, hope to hear good news.