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1. Extended appliance warranty - $1,800 per year for three years (a warranty came with the appliances in the house when he bought it. They followed up and so were not technically soliciting.)
2. New $7,000 V8 engine in his car
3. "Friend" who drives him on short excursions then allows him to pay for all of her meals and fill her gas tank.
4. Security system sales though he lives in a gated community in a very safe town.
5. Vitamins that are automatically mailed to him ($240 quarterly)
Most times, no one is there to intercept these people when they come to the house. However, I have electronic access to his credit card and bank accounts. When I see a suspicious charge, I call the vendor and cancel. If they resist, I tell them this is elder abuse and that I will report them to the state attorney general. Except in the case of the car engine where a product was installed, they have always credited my Dad's account. Also, all of my father's assets are in a trust and my sister and I are trustees. This means that he can't sign over assets to someone who does not have his best interests in mind. Trusts are not just for the wealthy. My Dad is a working class guy who saved up just enough to take care of himself into old age. The trust is to protect his assets from people who would take advantage of him.
This all takes time and is stressful. We are currently looking for an assisted living facility in order to protect Dad from scams and make sure he is safe.
Some are very simple, yet I failed to think of them. I have mailed my mother two "No Soliciting" & "No Tresspassing" signs that she can post. I told her to be sure and post these. I just hope she does. I did my part. She has to do hers. Also, I added her phone number to the National Do Not Call List. This may also help. she is too cheap to get Caller ID, so she can't screen her calls. I am trying to get her to sign up for it. what she does now to avoid phone calls, she takes her phone off the hook which I think is a huge mistake should something horrible happen and any of us need to get her. Thanks again so much for your help.
My mom opens her door to everyone and has been taken advantage of few times. She also refuses to screen her calls. I've heard her tell people "I don't need aluminum siding, I live in a condo alone, I'm a widow". Her neighbors are single women who act just like her. I told her to keep her guard up, act sensibly and zip her lip. Her answer to me was I should be ashamed that I don't have trust in people. Earth to Mom!!!!
The NO SOLICITORS signs will deter any people trying to sell anything. But for your own satisfaction, call the police department in her town and let them know what has happened to her. Ask that they patrol more in her neighborhood, and the next time you are at her home, go talk to neighbors you can trust and ask them to keep an eye out for any strangers going door to door. The BEST way to get rid of a solicitor is to be RUDE, "CAN'T YOU READ THE SIGN? LEAVE OR I CALL POLICE!"
2) If you did not do so, give a complete report of the prior scams to your mom's police department. They will spread the word and be proactive in keeping scammers out of the community. Most times older people are reluctant to report scams because they are embarrassed that they were fooled. This works in the scammers favor since the police cannot investigate them if no complaints were filed.
3) Enlist your mom's immediate neighbors in helping you keep an eye on her. Most neighbors will gladly help out if asked but do not want to intrude. My dad's neighbors seemed very aloof until I explained that I was concerned about him and asked them to call me anytime they noticed unusual behavior or strangers at the house. I got more help from them then I ever got from relatives who only lived 5-minutes away from my dad. It also helps to send a surprise gift to them at odd times just to let them know how much you appreciate their help.
All together this sort of stuff says to the perpetrator, "better try another home, this one's got it figured out," even though the occupant is clueless.
OR call you before she makes any decision concerning these con men. I have had my mother do the same.