Elder scammer can't steal this heart

Imagine for a moment, you’re an official advocate for elders in your community, representing the well being of vulnerable older adults. You hear about elder abuse – financial, emotional and physical on a regular basis and you are dedicated to protecting the people you represent as a citizen appointed to a public commission. Then, something happens and you become a victim of a scam targeting seniors – you lose thousands of dollars and, perhaps fear loss of your credibility as a member of the commission you serve in a very public way.

What do you do? Hide and tell no one to “save face”? Hope the story doesn’t get out? Or, do you, as Melanie Rochin, member of the Sacramento Country Adult and Aging Commission did, immediately contact the daily newspaper and share every detail of the painful experience with the entire community. Melanie didn’t hesitate to pick up the phone and talk with Anita Creamer of Sacramento Bee because, as she is known to do, Melanie cared more about others who might be similarly harmed than she worried about herself.

The short version of the story: Melanie’s 80-plus year old husband gets a call from someone claiming to be his estranged son from a previous marriage. The caller says he is stuck in Canada, in jail, needs money to get bail, get to a hearing, is desperate and apologetic and needs thousands of dollars like – yesterday! You get the picture. He is convincing. What parent would smell a rat and hang up, forever wondering …?

Melanie did get a call back number and asked a bunch of appropriate questions. Case number, badge number and other such details. Something was tugging at the back of her mind, but family comes first and her husband was riding an emotional roller coaster. They wired more than $5,800 to a Texas-based money transfer firm. The kicker came with another early morning call the next day. The son needed a few thousand more – and Melanie’s husband asked a key question – what was the son’s grandmother’s name. The answer delivered a strike to the heart. “My grandmother’s name is $5,800 and I’ve got it right here.”

Thus ended and simultaneously began Melanie’s saga. Her courage and concern led to a very public disclosure about a problem that’s much larger than acknowledged. Just one day after the story was published Anita Creamer and Melanie had received hundreds of phone calls from people in the Sacramento region reporting similar experiences. Scammers acquire (steal) personal identities and then target elders, armed with information and responses that allow them to defraud and abuse caring people.

Melanie’s disclosure of her experience makes a very big difference in community awareness. It will no doubt educate thousands of people and prevent some from becoming victims. She may be out that precious $5,800 but her resolution and selflessness is priceless.

As a Commissioner, Melanie is known for her depth of involvement with the community. She attends numerous functions, volunteers at scores of places and is forever helping people in need. Two days after the article was published, she attended the regular monthly meeting of the Commission, holding her head high and thinking only of the hurt her husband suffered and of the people she hopes will be helped by her actions. Melanie is, I believe, a hero serving the public good.