By John Loesing   newstip@theacorn.com

When Judi Dolan of Westlake Village called to have the air ducts in her home cleaned by a professional, she thought the $149 coupon she received in the mail would be the limit of her expense. She wound up paying $1,362 for the work, and the cost could have been even higher.

Dolan said a representative from American Air Care Inc. of Granada Hills told her she needed more than $4,000 in emergency services. A dispute between her and the company almost wound up in court. Dolan, who is a senior, said she felt duped and was forced to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. She received a $790 refund after the company paid a follow-up visit to her home and agreed the work wasn't as serious as she was led to believe.

Home improvement fraud has become a dangerous trend, especially among the elderly whose homes tend to be older and in need of more repairs. According to the National Association of Triads Inc., a watchdog organization for seniors, one 81-year-old woman who was caring for her husband with Alzheimer's disease paid a contractor $800,000 to have unnecessary repairs done on her home.

From home improvement schemes to investment fraud and sweepstakes scams, seniors often become sitting ducks for criminals looking to make a quick buck. According to the National Fraud Information Center, 22 percent of the telemarketing scam complaints filed in 2005 came from people over 70, which represents the highest percentage of any demographic group that year.

Dolan said the technician from American Air who visited her initially said she had high levels of asbestos in her home that needed immediate attention.

"He made it sound so dangerous," Dolan said. "He just kept insisting this was such a health hazard for my family."

Dolan said a second spokesman for the company told her later that the particles in question were not asbestos but fiberglass and agreed to pay the refund.

Reports from the Better Business Bureau show the company has received 29 complaints, including several from customers like Dolan who felt the $149 coupon was a "bait and switch" scam aimed at getting a technician in the door and securing a much larger contract than needed.

"It's a complete eye-opener," said Dolan regarding her experience. "I think of the other people who could be taken."

Attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful.

Target audience

According to experts in the field, seniors have unique physical and psychological needs that make them vulnerable, especially to scams involving finances.

"Seniors often worry they will outlive their money and are concerned that they might not be able to continue to live the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed," said Laurie Reid from the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Simi Valley.

"Some may get caught up in these schemes because they are looking for ways to improve their financial situations," Reid said

In a recent report by the Consumer Fraud Research Group titled "Off the Hook Again: Understanding Why the Elderly Are Victimized by Economic Fraud Crimes," it was found that fraud pitches are tailored to meet the psychological needs of a potential senior victim.

"Audiotapes of pitches showed that the con criminal will use one kind of appeal for the lottery fraud victim that may prey on the fact that person is a widow and feels deprived in life," the report said. "But con criminals will use a different kind of pitch for the investment fraud victim who is more likely to be male, self-reliant and knowledgeable about finances."

Reid said seniors need help from friends, family and watchdog groups to help insulate them from predatory behavior.

"Families of seniors who sometimes live in other cities will call upon our Home Instead caregivers--who are screened, trained, bonded and insured--to serve as a second set of eyes to help protect their loved ones," Reid said.

Words to the wise

Experts say one way to be on guard is to watch for individuals who may have recently befriended your loved one. Ask to talk to this purported new friend to find out more about them. A potential thief won't stick around long to chat.

Also, investigate organizations looking for money. Seniors often want to donate to charitable organizations and worthy causes. Check these groups out and request additional written information.

Assist your loved one with their finances and encourage them to put a plan in place that will make sure bills are paid and assets are protected. Destroy information that could be compromised and see that all financial information and credit card offers are shredded before discarding them in the trash.

Seek out a second set of eyes. If you live a distance from your loved one or can't always be there, help build a support network.

Additional telemarketing and Internet fraud tips are available from the National Fraud Information Center at www.fraud.org. To run a check on a company you think you might be doing business with, visit the Better Business Bureau at www.labbb.org.

Acorn Bits

Home Instead Senior Care and the National Association of Triads Inc., a subsidiary of the National Sheriffs' Association, list some of the top senior scams and explain how they work.

Home improvement frauds: Criminals will knock on a senior's door offering to fix their driveway, then paint it black and charge the senior $3,000. Or, seniors are asked to pay up front to have their roof fixed, never to see their alleged repairman again.

Prizes and sweepstakes scams: Seniors are told they've won a sweepstakes and all they need to do is send a check to cover the taxes. Or, they receive a fake check for $5,000 and are encouraged to deposit the money and send back $2,000 to cover the taxes. By the time it's determined that these checks, which often come from an overseas bank, are worthless, the senior has lost their money.

Phishing schemes: Seniors receive a call from someone claiming to represent a bank or other reputable financial institution. They're warned that their financial information or credit card has been compromised and are asked to verify their bank account number or call an 800 number where they're asked for their personal financial information.

Internet fraud: Seniors, unfamiliar with how to use the Internet, unwittingly give their credit card number to a scammer.