By DIANE VALDEN
CANAAN—A driver was charged and he and his passenger were hurt in a vehicle crash at 2003 Route 295, June 25 at 4:29 p.m.
Craig A. Yandow, 54, of Essex Junction, VT, was driving a 2013 Dodge eastbound on Route 295 when the vehicle left the roadway, struck the guard rail and a utility pole.
The vehicle overturned into a swampy area, according to State Police Public Information Officer Trooper Aaron J. Hicks.
Mr. Yandow was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor.
Columbia County 911 dispatched Canaan firefighters and Chatham Rescue to the scene. Red Rock firefighters responded to provide mutual aid. New York State Electric & Gas responded to fix the broken pole. State Police investigated on scene, assisted by Sheriff’s deputies.
The driver and front seat passenger were taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Firefighters were back in service at 6:01 p.m.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
Protect against scams targeting older adults
GHENT—World Elder Abuse Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of elder fraud that results in significant financial loss. The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection offers guidance to help raise awareness of scams that target older adults.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, scams targeting adults over the age of 60 caused more than $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an increase of about 11% from the prior year. The average victim of elder fraud lost $33,915 due to these crimes. Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics.
“Scams targeting older adults are becoming more prevalent and more advanced, with scammers using many different tactics to deceive consumers and steal personal information, money or both. I encourage all New Yorkers to review this guidance, stay informed about the most common types of scams targeting older adults and to make a plan to help protect older family members and friends from financial abuse,” Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said in a press release.
Some of the most common older adult scams include:
*Medical Device Scam: Unsolicited prerecorded messages, known as “robocalls,” offering free medical alert devices by providing an address and credit card information
*Grandparent Scam: Scammers call or email asking for money while impersonating a beloved grandchild who is in some kind of trouble
*Ghosting Scam: Identity thieves obtain personal information about deceased persons from obituaries, funeral homes, hospitals, stolen death certificates and online web sites and use this information to establish credit and open accounts, take out loans, receive benefits or even collect tax refunds filed under the stolen identity
*Jury Duty Scam: Scammers pretending to be law enforcement officers or court officials contact individuals to inform them that they have failed to report to jury duty and must pay a fine by credit card to avoid an arrest
*Funeral Notification Scam: Scammers send emails deceptively informing recipients of an upcoming farewell ceremony in remembrance of a friend or loved one, and upon clicking a link provided in the email, victims are sent to a third-party website where malicious software is downloaded so scammers can gain access to the user’s information
*Sweepstakes Scam: Scammers entice consumers with various prize offers and then ask to share personal information or pay a fee to enter the sweepstakes
*Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Imposter Scam: Phone scammers impersonate IRS agents and demand immediate payment of overdue taxes from victims via debit card or wire transfer to avoid being arrested
*Free Grant Scam: Scammers promise fraudulent grants in print or over the phone and ask for bank account and routing numbers.
For more information about how you can recognize the most common older adult scams or for more scam prevention tips, download The Division of Consumer Protection’s informative Senior Anti-Fraud Education (SAFE) brochure.
Here are a few tips to follow if you or someone you know receives a call or email you believe to be a scam:
*Resist the urge to act immediately—no matter how dramatic the story is
*Verify the caller’s identity—ask questions that a stranger couldn’t answer. Check with a family member to see if the information is true
*Do not send cash, gift cards or money transfers. Once the scammer gets the money—it’s gone
*Do not give your personal banking account information by email or over the phone or log into bank accounts as directed by the caller (scammers can steal your information using screen mirroring).
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has also developed a new Don’t Get Scammed guide, which provides information about scams including red flags, common scam types and tactics, and resources to help.
There are resources to help if you are concerned about an individual, friend or loved one who may be experiencing elder abuse, including the non-emergency helpline at 844-746-6905 and the Adult Protective Services hotline at 1-844-697-3505 to report abuse.
