Our elder law firm, Cohen & Olican LLP, works hard to protect the rights and assets of our elderly and handicapped clients. When we champion your rights, it is totally upsetting to us to see our clients preyed on by unscrupulous con artists.

1. Boston Elder Law Attorneys
Specializing in Medicaid Planning
Cohen & Oalican, LLC
617-263-1035- Boston
508-821-5599 – Raynham
978-749-0008 - Andover

2.  Our elder law firm, Cohen & Olican, LLP,
works hard to protect the rights and assets
of our elderly and handicapped clients.
 When we champion your rights, it is totally
upsetting to us to see our clients preyed on
by unscrupulous con artists.


3.  So, in this article, we are going to do our
best to alert you to some of the more
common scams, and how to protect
yourself.
 Of course, should you fall victim to one of
these scam artist, turning to professional
law enforcement, and your elder law
attorney is far more important than
protecting yourself from embarrassment.
 Acting against these scam artists is the
only way to protect the next victim.

4.  You've hear the adage "If it sounds to good to
be true......"
 Well, frankly, more often than not, it is too
good to be true.
 Yet still the vulnerable are constantly preyed
on by con men and women, leaving financial
devastation in their wake.
 Here are some of the most common scams you
should be on the look out for.

5. Some Common Swindles:
•ID Theft
•Fake Charities
•Unlicensed Contractors
Offering Home Repairs

6. •ID theft:
•With the growing of the
internet and all the different
ways con artists work to get
ahold of your private
information, you must be
incredibly careful with Identity
theft.

7. •Place outgoing mail in a
secure collection box and
remove incoming mail from
your mailbox promptly.
•Get a shredder.. nothing that
is in your trash should be
considered safe

8.  Any personal information should be shredded
before it is trashed.
 Question any website that asks you for you
passwords or bank account numbers.
 Websites can be built to look like they are
your real bank website - but in truth - they
are there to take your information.
 If it doesn't feel right..ask the question.. has
my bank ever before asked me to go to a
website just to confirm my password... We
assure you - they haven't.

9.  If in doubt.. call your bank, or whomever it is
that is asking for your information.
 To cut down on credit offers, call 888-567-
8688 or go to
http://www.optoutprescreen.com to opt out
of mail credit offers.
 You will need to provide your Social Security
number so they can match your request with
your file - this is a legitimate request for your
private information.

10. Fake Charities
 Scam artists create fake charities, often
sounding like a real charity... they can spend
a few dollars at a local copy store to dummy
up credible looking ID, and they go on the
prowl.
 These ruthless con men (and women) not
only steel from the vulnerable, but they also
make it harder and harder for legitimate
charities to do the worthy work that they are
chartered to do.

11.  We recommend that you make a conscious
decision and a real plan for your charitable giving
and philanthropy.
 Check out the organizations that you intend to
support, and support them for the good works
that they do.
 Do not be moved by the compelling story of a
young woman knocking on your doorstep.
 Legitimate charities are registered with the state
of Massachusetts.
 Here's a website to go to to validate whether or
not a charity is registered with the state.

12. Unlicensed contractors offering home repairs:
 "Hey, we just finished a job fro the Smiths
two streets over, and there's leftover tile,
would you like a great deal on....."
 If it sounds too good to be true, it probably
is.
 Beware of home repair scams.
 Look out for transient work crews, strangers
claiming to have extra material, free
inspections in your home.. All of these should
be red flags.

13.  You should look to licensed bonded and
insured professionals.
 It may feel more expensive at the outset than
these street contractors that show up.. but
nothing is more expensive than a botched
job, or worse, paying and never seeing your
money or the work again.
 Shop around for a certified contractor insist
on a detailed contract on the work to be
done, estimated cost and timetable.

14.  The state of Massachusetts Executive Office
of Elder Affairs should be notified of any
scam, or scam attempt by calling 1-800-
243-4636.

15.  If you have been victimized, keeping quiet will
not help the next victim in line. Just last month
(October 20/2010) in Ipswitch and elderly citizen
was approached by someone saying that they
were the recipient of funds from the federal
government, and asked to provide personal
information in order to claim his windfall.
 The man intelligently informed local police, and
the scammer was investigated and arrested.
 We applaud this anonymous individual.
 Our elders cannot be a doormat waiting for the
next scam artist to come knocking.

16.  If you are subjected to a scam, contact
local authorities, and your elder law
attorney
 At Cohen & Olican, LLP we take pride
in protecting our clients.

17. Boston Elderlaw Attorneys
Specializing in Medicaid Planning
Cohen & Oalican, LLC
617-263-1035- Boston
508-821-5599 – Raynham
978-749-0008 - Andover