LIHU‘E — Michael Ratcliffe of the Kaua‘i Senior Law program and the Elder Abuse Council said he has gotten three scam letters from older island residents since Thursday, with the latest arriving Monday. “This is the latest scam toward seniors,”
LIHU‘E — Michael Ratcliffe of the Kaua‘i Senior Law program and the Elder Abuse Council said he has gotten three scam letters from older island residents since Thursday, with the latest arriving Monday.
“This is the latest scam toward seniors,” Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe said the letter is addressed to Kaua‘i elders and claims the senior has won $100,000. Enclosed with the letter is a check which appears to be real.
But this is where it gets fishy, Ratcliffe said.
The check is written on an American company’s check and appears to be legitimate. But Ratcliffe said he checked and discovered the logo is different.
“’Oh, you got one of those checks, too,’” was the comment Ratcliffe said received when he checked with the company.
The scam letter, according to its heading, originates in Canada and asks the recipient to send a “processing fee” before the funds are released, citing a North American Law. “The same law also prevents you from paying the fees out of your personal funds,” the letter states.
The letter goes on to advise the recipient that if an attempt is made to cash the check before speaking to any of its agents, the check will be void.
Ratcliffe said what makes this approach different is it has a longer “fuse,” or time frame in which the contact is made.
“Usually, these types of letters want contact to be made within a few days, but this one gives people until March 8 to respond,” he said.
He said he got one letter from a kupuna on Thursday, one on Friday and the third on Monday morning.
People who receive this solicitation in the mail can contact Ratcliffe at 246-8868.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
