Published: January 19, 2007 09:44 am      

CPAA elects new officers, hears fraud-fighting tips

CLINTON — Citizen Police Academy Alumni met Wednesday night and heard a presentation from guest speaker, Alan Green, director of the Seniors vs. Crime program in Clinton County.

The CPA was created in 1995 when former Clinton Police Chief Gene Beinke identified a need to improve existing community and police relations. With the idea to give Clinton residents an opportunity to understand how the police department works, Beinke enlisted the help of officer Brian Guy, now the police chief, to create the academy.

The CPA program involves 11 weeks of presentations by Clinton police officers and other city and county officials. The program provides community members with an inside look at local law enforcement while increasing understanding between the citizens through education and interaction with members of the police department and improving police officer and community rapport.

Twenty-four Clinton residents graduated from the 13th CPA class last year.

After the classes concluded, many of the participants remarked how the program was fun, educational and gave them a better understanding and deeper respect for what police officers do in the course of their duties.

The CPA Alumni aid the officers during the classes and usually provide refreshments. The CPAA meets monthly to plan activities such as participating in the National Night Out event in the summer and hearing presentations on community issues.

On Wednesday, Green spoke to the alumni about fraud and scam prevention. As director of the Seniors vs. Crime program, he said the purpose of his job is to assist seniors in not becoming the victim of scams, fraud and crime. Green writes a weekly column that is published in several local newspapers.

Green touted the Clinton County 911 cell phone program, in which area residents can donate recycled cell phones that can be reprogrammed to only dial 911. The phones are distributed to elderly and disabled persons throughout the county in case of an emergency. Green said his office also distributes “File of Life” packets, magnetic folders that contain personal, medical and contact information. The folder can be placed on a refrigerator and in the event someone is unable to relay that information to emergency medical service workers, the information is easily accessible.

Green said the main focus of his work is to assist seniors regarding fraudulent practices. He said he regularly encounters fake charities, fake checks such as the Nigerian check scam, fraudulent Internet sales, fake Social Security or Medicare calls about underpayments and false rebate checks.

“All of it ends up with money out of your bank account,” Green said.

He said seniors and others must be vigilant with their personal information to prevent identity theft. Green advised that people register their home or cell phone numbers with the federal Do Not Call registry by calling 1-888-382-1222. He said it prevents telemarketers from calling numbers on the list or the company may be subject to a $10,000 fine.

He said four exceptions apply to the Do Not Call list, including charities, any business a person has dealt with, political organizations and survey calls. Green said people who do not want calls from any of those organizations can ask to be put on their private do not call lists.

Green said people who encounter a problem receiving calls after the 30 days it takes to become registered on the list, area residents can call the Federal Trade Commission with the name of the company calling and the time of day the call was received. He said if possible, people should get the number the company is calling from and the name of the person who called.

Green said no one should give out personal information on the phone, especially when they did not initiate the call. He noted that Medicare, the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security offices will not call to ask for information because they already have it. He advised that people should only discuss important issues when it is convenient for them because he often hears that people are taken by a scam because they were tired or are just recovering from surgery.

“If you’re not at the top of your game, that’s no time to do business,” said Green.

CPA liaison and Clinton Police Capt. Chuck Witt said scams and frauds have increased over the years because of the decline of personal relationships between vendors and buyers and an increase in electronic information sharing. He said information crimes are hard to detect, catch and prosecute and warned that people really need to protect themselves and their personal information.

“We always tell people, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Witt said.

Green is available during the office hours of 8 to 4 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. He urges anyone with questions, concerns or who feels they have been victimized by fraud to call him at 242-9211 or send him an e-mail at alangreen@ci.clinton.ia.us.