Laguna Woods Private Investigator - Elder Abuse and Scams

Laguna Woods is the type of area that people dream about retiring to. In fact, the median age of residents in this small city is 78. Residents primarily live in a retirement community called Laguna Woods Village, a secured and gated community consisting of attached and detached homes. Linked Investigations is a Laguna Woods Private Investigator.

Despite the warm weather, beautiful scenery, and comfortable lifestyle, predators lurk – waiting for their chance to take advantage of those who are living out their golden years. If you are concerned about the welfare of an elderly loved one in Laguna Woods, learn about the private investigative services that we offer.

Elder Abuse Investigation

Have you noticed a change in your loved one’s appearance, behavior, or attitude? If so, this could be a sign that he or she is being abused. We can conduct a comprehensive elder abuse investigation to help uncover evidence of abuse through surveillance, interviews, and other investigative measures. With that evidence in hand, you can help bring the abuse to light and stop it once and for all. Contact us to discuss the specifics of your case during a free, no-obligation consultation.

Background Checks

If you think that the nursing home or agency responsible for hiring prospective caretakers has conducted an adequate background check, you might want to think again. Many times nursing homes and caregiving agencies are understaffed, putting them in the position of hiring nearly anyone - ultimately putting your loved one at risk. Even if they do conduct a background check, some crimes might be overlooked if they were not considered serious or if they happened too long ago.

Where other checks have come up empty, our comprehensive background checks have uncovered criminal convictions, lack of necessary education or training, and lack of credentials. We have seen instances where caregivers have lied about their employment history and their education. We have also uncovered previous civil filings involving caregiver abuse from these individuals.

If you want to ensure that the caregivers you hire are really who they say they are, you can’t take any shortcuts. A complete background check is the best way to find out for sure.

Internet Scams

According to the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Investor Education Foundation of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, individuals over 65 years old are 34 percent more likely to have lost funds on a financial scam, when compared to individuals in their 40s. However, this figure may be underestimated. The National Adult Protective Services Association reports that only 1 in 44 financial fraud victims actually report this occurrence. Part of the reason why is because they are afraid that their children will insist on taking over their finances.

Elderly individuals are at an increased risk of a number of different types of scams. CNBC reports that some of the most common Internet scams that target the elderly include :

  1. The Sweetheart Scam – This scam targets elderly individuals who are looking for love on online dating sites. According to a study by MetLife, women are more likely to be targeted than men, with the typical victim being a white woman between the ages of 70 and 89. After weaseling their way into the elderly individual’s heart through romantic messages and gestures, the scammer asks for a large sum of money. By the time the victim figures out what has really happened, the scammer has moved on to his or her next victim.
  2. The Imposter Scam – Here, a person initiates contact with the elderly individual – typically by phone or Email – and pretends to be someone they are not, such as a representative of the IRS or a debt collector. They fill the victim with fear – making them believe that they owe money for one thing or another. The con artist is then able to convince the victim to send money to them (which, of course, they then quickly run off with).
  3. The Grandchild Scam – Don’t let the name fool you. Not only will a con artist call and pretend to be the victim’s grandchild, but they’ll use other relationships (niece, nephew, child of a close family friend, etc.) to ask for money to cover some cooked-up emergency situation.

Laguna Woods Private Investigator

Our Laguna Woods private investigators are familiar with these and other scams. If someone is attempting to scam your loved one, we can help to investigate the matter. We can even bring the information forward to law enforcement on your behalf, if you wish. At Linked Investigations, you have an ally to help you protect your vulnerable loved ones. Contact us today at 714-432-9911 or via our contact form.

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