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Palos Park Police Department Issues Senior Scam Alert - Alarming Increase in Targeted Victims 

They then seek change for a $100 or $50 bill in an attempt to find out where the money is kept and they keep the homeowner busy while their accomplice searches the house for money or jewelry. 

A number of victims reported the Black pick up truck being used by these senior predators.  They will always wear a cap to hide their face and grow or shave off facial hair as they commit these crimes.   The offender’s utilize distraction and confession to gain entry into the home and commit the burglary.  Seniors are their target and seniors should by extremely cautious. 

The Palos Park Police Department is working with other communities to locate identity and charge these potentially dangerous predatory offenders.   Any one approached by these offenders should call 9 1 1 and anyone with any additional information is urged to call the Palos Park Police Department at 708 671 3770.

• Scam artists and thieves are always out there, waiting to cash in on your hard earned money. It’s easy to have your tax refund, social security or other retirement payments deposited directly into your bank account.
• Not only is this convenient, it is much safer too. Direct deposit eliminates the chance that your checks will be taken from your mailbox or that you’ll be observed taking a month’s livelihood from the bank.
• Whenever possible, travel with friends to the store, the bank or doctor. You are much less likely to have your purse or wallet stolen,
• Do not carry credit cards or large sums of cash. Avoid displaying expensive jewelry, which make tempting targets for thieves.
• Work out a buddy system with a neighbor. Check on each other each day. Let neighbors know when you are away from your house or on a trip so they can watch out for you. Return the favor when they are away.

You worked hard for your money, protect it…and yourself from fraud!!!!!
Although frauds and scams can happen at any time of the year, spring and summertime is a particularly busy season for con artists. This is especially true of home repair and contractor fraud. Home repair fraud takes many forms. Someone may approach you with an offer to re‐roof your house or install new windows at a price that seems too good to be true (it probably is). You also need to be careful of home improvement loan scams. Do not be tricked into signing papers that allow fraudulent contractors to obtain mortgages or assign liens against your home.

• Never sign a contract that you do not fully understand. Be suspicious if you are approached by someone offering to do home repairs for you. Be particularly wary of on contractors who:
  • Solicit door to door or to have leftover material from another job in the neighborhood that they want to use up. Or Claim that they just happen to be passing by and noticed you needed their service.
  • Accept only cash payments
  • Require payment in full up front
  • Refuse or fail to provide references
  • Suggest that you borrow money from a lender they happen to know. Many one of these situations are a red flag to you that something may not be right.
  • Ask for a written contract that fully outlines the details of the job, including product and materials specifications, time lines, warranties, and payment schedules. Never sign a contract without reading it carefully, or if it has blank spaces to be filled in later. A good contract should protect both you and the contractor. If the contract is vague or confusing, or there is something about it that you don’t understand

STOP! Do not let someone rob you with a ballpoint pen. Con artists and swindlers use many different ploys to separate you from your money. Some simple things you can do to protect yourself.

• Always be careful about giving out personal information, especially financial information, to someone you don’t know—whether you are approached at your front door, on the street, at the shopping center, or on the telephone.
• If someone calls you on the phone and asks for your social security, credit card or bank account number, do not give it to them. When someone calls, you have no sure way of verifying who they say they are.
• Be wary of anyone who calls or approaches you and asks that you produce cash for any reason. People posing as law enforcement officials, bank examiners and others bilk unsuspecting victims out of millions of dollars each year. No legitimate police officer, bank official, or government agency will ever ask you to provide cash to help them in an investigation. Legitimate sweepstakes and contest operators never require the “winner” to produce payment to collect their prize either.
• Check their identification. Government officials, police officers, utility company employees, and others who work with the public all carry identification. Don’t be shy about asking to see it—and calling the appropriate agency or company to confirm their legitimacy