FRAUD WARNING! HELP AVAILABLE IF YOU ARE TARGETEDI

According to Tom Lenzo, a volunteer with the Pasadena Police Department, many seniors are targets of criminal fraud.

Last year we had two charges on our VISA account that were not ours. I called the phone number on my VISA card, and they investigated the charges, assuring me if they were not ours they would be deleted from our account. They contacted the two vendors-one in Florida, one in San Clemente-and learned the items ordered were sent to a Michigan address. The charges were deleted.

One of our residents had a similar experience in the last two weeks, except the high charges on tha.t person's account were for-"cyber security and tech support." Two invoices arrived by mail, and two other charges were on the VISA account showing up on the on-line banking statement.

A phone call was made to the Pasadena NON-urgent phone number. No one answered, but a message was left detailing what had happened. Eight days later, Tom Lenzo returned the call. He said a police report should be filed and told of a flew contract the Pasadena Police Department has with the non-profit agency, FOOTHILL FAMILY, home based in Duarte.

Mr. Lenzo, who has spoken here at the Grove in the past, said he would contact AURORA DURAN, of FOOTHILL FAMILY. She came the very next day to talk with the person who had been targeted, then returned the next day, along with Tom Lenzo-who supervises this service-and oversaw Ms. Duran's filling out of the police report to be filed􀈧 Ms. Duran has returned a third and fourth time to assist with follow up, insuring that all the right entities have been notified of the attempted fraud and what should be done in the event of any further issues.

We were given the contact information of Aurora Duran to share with Grove residents, should any of us become targets of fraud1or other criminal activity.

AURORA DURAN, Victim Service Coordinator, Elder Abuse Treatment & Support. (626) 993-3000 ext. 3368

I see this as a positive step taken by the Pasadena Police Department to offer trained supportive services to citizens when a sworn officer is not needed. I was very impressed with the knowledgeable and caring support provided by Ms. Duran.

— Barbara Mathieu