May is Older Americans Month – a great time to highlight some of the work my office is doing for Arizona's senior citizens.

Most consumer protection efforts benefit all state residents, but some are especially helpful for older Arizonans.  Our new “Top 10 Consumer Scams” brochure is one example.  This updated 40-page booklet is a practical guide on avoiding the most common consumer schemes and what to do if you are a victim. 

Too often, seniors are the targets of scams.  Our 2006 brochure includes information on predatory lending, telephone sales, mortgage rescue schemes, door-to-door sales, phony prize notifications, bogus business opportunities, home repairs, car buying and much more.  The brochure can be requested from our office or downloaded from our Web site.

Fraud Fighter Accounts are a new consumer protection tool.  These accounts are designed for people who, because of disabilities, health issues or because their financial security has been compromised, are especially vulnerable to identity theft or fraud.  These accounts, which I hope will soon be offered by participating banks and credit unions, will allow consumers to choose among several options to protect their checking and savings accounts.  Options will include limiting daily and/or monthly withdrawals, notifying a trusted third party if suspicious transactions are attempted and limiting electronic access to accounts.  Interested consumers should ask their bank or credit union if they offer these protective measures.

Another important resource is our Life Care Planning Packet (which can be downloaded from our Web site or mailed upon request).  Many families struggle with the same difficult health care decisions Terri Schiavo's family experienced last year.  I am a strong advocate for early, responsible planning.  Completing the Advance Directives helps ensure that your wishes or a loved one’s wishes will be respected.  Our packet contains instructions, background information and legal forms to help plan for the future.  The forms include a living will, durable health care (medical) power of attorney, pre-hospital medical care directive ("Do Not Resuscitate" or "DNR"), and a durable mental health care power of attorney.

My office also offers an online Senior Citizens Protection Manual.  This guide contains brief descriptions of the most commonly known scams against seniors and provides names and numbers of agencies that can help.

Additionally, our Web site contains useful information for preventing and responding to elder abuse.  Studies have found that a small but significant percentage of older adults are victims of abuse and neglect.  Because elder abuse is often hidden under a shroud of secrecy, only 1 out of 14 cases get reported.  Our guide explains how to spot the signs of abuse, how to ask a victim about abuse and how to refer them to the proper agencies for assistance and services.

I have expanded our Satellite Office network to make it easy for citizens to take advantage of our services.  These offices are staffed by trained volunteers who can answer questions and help resolve consumer and civil rights problems.

Because so many crooks and con artists take aim at seniors, I will continue to keep older Arizonans in the forefront of our consumer protection work.  I will continue to prosecute vigorously both criminal and civil law violations, but my first goal is to arm consumers with enough information to minimize the chance they will be abused or defrauded.  I hope someday Arizonans have the knowledge to stop crimes before they happen.

Terry Goddard