Did you know clever criminals constantly evolve their techniques to swindle and scam older adults? Disasters, such as the one affecting Western North Carolina due to hurricane Helene, make people especially vulnerable to deception.
Diane Mahoney, civilian administrator and evidence technician with the Franklin Police Department, has developed a program to address these crimes and help local citizens identify scams before their hard-earned money is stolen from them.
“I handle the walk-ins that report scams,” said Mahoney. She grew increasingly alarmed by the growing numbers of local citizens being taken in by gift card scams.
Urged on by Franklin’s Police Chief Devin Holland, Mahoney researched the latest trends on gift cards and other scams using data and educational materials developed by the Federal Trade Commission. Mahoney found that scammers target older adults because “older adults generally have accumulated assets, are polite and don’t push back, and are reluctant to report exploitation.”
The North Carolina Department of Justice reported that in 2023, telemarketing and robocalls were the top reported scams in the state, with 3,281 specific complaints filed with the Consumer Protection division.
Mahoney wanted to reverse that trend in Macon County and now serves as the department’s lead on outreach. Her presentations help local citizens avoid becoming victims of the latest telemarketing and internet scams that criminals use to pry money from unsuspecting victims.
Mahoney will provide up-to-date information on how to ward off scammers on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library, 149 Siler Farm Rd, Franklin. The program is free and no advance registration is required. In addition to a question-and-answer session, Mahoney will hand out materials for use at home.
While the program is focused on older adults, Mahoney invited all ages to attend, as anyone beginning to accumulate assets can also be a target.
“If you cannot make the program on Nov. 7, I invite you to stop by the Franklin Police Department during normal business hours,” said Mahoney. “I can provide you with the printed materials and review the latest information about trends in our community.”
Mahoney also said she is available to speak to local organizations on this topic. If interested, call her at (828)524-2864.