January 6, 2014

On Friday, KGW News highlighted an increase in telephone and email scams aimed toward older adults in our community.

Scammers pose as family members, businesses, and even utility companies to steal money from people. Unfortunately, the scams are becoming more sophisticated – and many older adults don’t realize they are victims until it’s too late.

Nick is proud to serve as City Council Liaison to Elders in Action, a mission-driven nonprofit focused on creating a vibrant community with active and engaged older adults.

Elders in Action volunteers have been hard at work, educating seniors in our community about possible scams, how to avoid them, and what to do if they become victims. Executive Director Leslie Foren and her staff regularly meet with the Department of Justice and local law enforcement to rally together against these scams.

As more Baby Boomers reach retirement years, scams aimed at seniors are likely to continue. We want our community to be a place where our aging population feels safe and secure. In October 2013, Portland adopted an Action Plan for an Age-Friendly Portland – a plan which will help our community better prepare for an aging population and the unique challenges they face. The Plan outlines goals and action areas to ensure our older adults are respected, involved, and receive quality care and services.

Special thanks to KGW for highlighting this growing problem, and to Elders in Action for advocating for our seniors. Learn more about Elders in Action by visiting their website, or calling (503) 238-5474.

Con artists increase their scams on seniors

Wayne Havrelly, KGW News