State Rep. Chris Pielli, along with the Housing Authority of Chester County, held a free program educating people on how to spot and avoid frauds and scams.
During the “Scam Jam,” Pielli spoke alongside experts from the state Department of Banking and Securities, the Office of Attorney General, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, and the West Chester Police Department.
“As technology continues to advance at a blinding pace, scammers and fraudsters gain new tools in their efforts to steal from vulnerable people,” Pielli said. “Thankfully, our police and legal departments are on top of these constantly changing tactics and know how to warn seniors who are overwhelmingly targeted by scammers.
“I thank the Housing Authority of Chester County for bringing all these experts together to keep folks safe and informed.”
Scammers looking to steal your savings have gotten very creative. While seniors aren’t taken advantage of as often, they are targeted the most.
“We deal with a vulnerable population who could easily be tricked,” said Paul Diggs, Executive Director and CEO of the Housing Authority of Chester County. “They often can’t understand the pitfalls of greedy and vicious scammers or understand the scams out there.”
Dave Shallcross, of the Attorney General’s Office, said that people often ask themselves how they could have been so “stupid, dumb or gullible.”
He said that even the most intelligent professionals get scammed.
Scams come in many varieties and are often difficult to discern.
Some scammers use a trigger to spark emotions and a reason for tension. A grandmother receives a phone call from her grandson who says he was charged with a DUI, is in jail and needs bail money.
Bonnie Cox-Shaw of the District Attorney’s Office said that often family members are directed to send gift cards or cash to bail someone out, or the family member will stay in jail longer.
“It sounds real to a lot of people,” Cox-Shaw said. “Scammers are given information from social media.”
Grandmom can easily be fooled. A grandchild’s voice can now accurately be mimicked with Artificial Intelligence.
Jerry Ferriola, of the West Chester Police Department, said that random phone calls from a loved one in distress are the biggest trending scam.
“Who wouldn’t want to help out a family member?” the officer asked.
Another scam discussed by Detective Tom Goggin, of Chester County Detectives, was stealing from a loved and trusted one. The detective has seen this in Phoenixville, West Chester, Tredyffrin and towns all over the Chester County.
The victim is often isolated, is someone not usually heard from and under car of a family member. The care giver starts taking advantage and sometimes the victim lives in unspeakable conditions and is neglected. One victim even ended up in the Emergency Room.
“It isn’t always a stranger; it can be somebody you trust,” Goggin said.
A trusted relative can easily infiltrate bank accounts and even move several people into the victim’s home. It can be tough to remove those unwanted house guests.
Romance can lead to a stolen bank account. Someone is met on the Internet and turns out not to be that person the lonely person has been talking to.
The scammer then quickly needs money, although they have only made a connection for a day or two, or maybe a couple of weeks.
The relationship is rushed and then the new love interest has a “horrible problem that requires cash or they will be in dire straits,” according to Cox-Shaw.
Could you fall in love with somebody you’ve never met and never met face to face? asked Shallcross.
Don’t always believe it when you receive a refund or are told by phone that you didn’t pay a bill. Many were tricked by an EZ Pass mass texting scam in Chester County.
Detective Goggin said he is as vulnerable as anybody. He almost fell for the story by a visitor who showed to his door expectantly and informed the detective that there were Brown Recluse spiders under his porch.
“He got me on my childhood fear of spiders,” Goggin said, with a smile. “He almost got my credit card.”
And don’t believe limited time offers that are only good for 20 minutes. You might get a call on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. and told that your electricity will be shut off by the end of the business day. Call the electric provider directly. What’s the rush?
Ferriola then said that the biggest case load in his office is check washing.
A check can be altered for a PECO bill and paid to someone else. You only hear about it when PECO calls to say you haven’t paid your bill.
Gypsy contractors will knock on your door and say they have a little asphalt left, said Ferriola. Can they touch up your driveway at bargain rates? Don’t believe it. Check it out.
Katrina Boyer, with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS), said that identity theft is prevalent. A credit card in your name or a new cell phone account or mortgage is applied for.
Be aware that counterfeit checks can be mailed to you and your bank charges a fee to cash bogus checks.
Don’t trust Caller ID. Through spoofing a phone number can be altered.
So what are six basic tips to avoid being scammed? Keep it simple.
Always be cautious of unexpected offers. Never rush into decisions. Verify the legitimacy of any company or person contacting you.
Never share personal or financial information. If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Always do your own research before committing yourself to anything, or ask someone you trust to help you, like a family member or close friend.
The experts at the seminar also gave great tips to avoid scams.
Goggin said that when scammed tell a family member or friend and don’t be embarrassed to go to police.
“Never say “Yes” to something you don’t want to do. “Be as comfortable saying ‘No’ as ‘Yes,’ Goggin said.
Detective Michael Carsello, of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department, said to keep it simple and if you don’t trust something and it sounds fishy it probably is.
“Use your gut — it’s 85 percent accurate,” the officer said.
Cox-Shaw said to ask yourself if you already took care of the problem or paid the bill.
Use strong passwords that are difficult for a computer to uncover, and that you can remember, and use several characters and letters.
Ferrioli suggested to prepare in advance with a plan. Discuss challenge questions ahead of time so when somebody calls about a relative needing bail money you can ascertain whether the call is bogus and a relative’s voice is cloned.
Ask questions such as, “Where were we at Thanksgiving dinner?”
Universally, speakers warned to never send gift cards. The prison doesn’t need or use iTunes gift cards.
Always keep an eye on your money and accounts. Stay on top of your finances and check your credit report regularly.
Ferriola suggested using a credit card rather than a debit card when paying bills since recouping losses on a debit card is tough.
“It’s not impossible, but very difficult,” he said. “There are remedies but you have to jump through hoops if you use a debit card.”
Never pay somebody for a job that isn’t completed or cheaper than expected, Ferriola said.
If somebody knocks on your door, get as much information as possible. Check with the Better Business Bureau, state licensing agencies, and Google or Yelp it.
“It’s better to protect yourself than recoup yourself,” Ferriola said.
With identity theft, a credit card can be opened in your name, a cell phone account created or a mortgage applied for.
You can easily freeze your credit at websites and prevent credit from being open, said Katrina Boyer, of the Department of Banking Services. Lifting a freeze is even easier and you can establish a time to lift a freeze. And if something is not right, report it to all three credit agencies.
Shallcross warned “contest winners” to ask themselves if they actually entered.
“You’ve got to be in it to win,” he said.
That goes for jury duty too. Did you receive a summons in the mail?
Think really hard before you wire money or use Cryptocurrency. Red flags should go up when required to pay in bitcoin.
A speaker quoted Warren Buffett: “I never buy or invest in anything I don’t fully understand.”
Don’t feel obligated because you were sent a freebie, such as five nickels.
Shred everything. Watch out for card skimmers at gas stations and ATM machines.
Beware of charity scams. Check independently to see if a particular charity is legitimate.
Make copies of your credit and other cards so that if they are stolen you have a quickly accessible backup on phone and account numbers.
Important phone numbers and websites:
· Senior Protection Unit– seniors@attorneygeneral.gov 866-623-2137
· Health CareSection—healthcare@attorneygeneral.gov 877-888-4877
· Bureau of Consumer Protection scams@attorneygeneral.gov 800-441-2555
· Department of Aging—aging@pa.gov 717-783-1550
· Office of Attorney General—attorneygeneral.gov 717-787-3391
· Report scams to the Department of Banking and Securities—800-PA-BANKS
· Chester County District Attorney—610-344-6801
© 2025 Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
