You can't fix stupid!!

DUMB SENIORS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many times are these people going to be told about these scams. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!

They are smart enough to know how to wire $75,000 to another country, and don't understand why they are doing it!

I would be able to start on how much my mother in law sent to people like this over the years

I used To feel sorry For them now I no longer do. They are greedy. Be happy with The $75,000 you have. My savings is gone because I have a young family And The economy is killing us not because Of a make it rich scheme. Where is my news story?

Know they are seniors, but how many times they have to be warned about this?

It's easy to say "I would never be so stupid", etc. but you have to realize that some of these seniors are not 100% mentally sound; may be over- medicated; don't have anyone who watches out for them. It's not easy to be alone in the world so if someone contacts them, they reach out for anyone. Folks who realize such scams exist are not likely to fall for something like this. When, and if, the scammers are caught they should be prosecuted, but they are probably out of the US and can't be touched.

Ed Don`t do business on the phone with someone you don`t know. If you`re curious tell them to send you the literature and hang up. It`s not considered rude to hang up on unsolicited calls.....hang up...hang up!! They`ll move on to the next person.

Banks should be a little suspicious when a customer of theirs with over $75,000 wants to withdraw it and wire it overseas. After all, when that money is out of the bank, they lose business. I have been questioned about closing accounts and withdrawals for much less money than that.

So .... let me get this straight, your told you won the lottery & your sending them your money .... really? Stupid is as stupid does ....

Yeah these are the ones on " fixed incomes" and eat out every night throw away money on lottery and atlantic city! But ask for more tax money for schools etc and we cant afford to cause we are on "fixed incomes". Some of these people its true but if you can send $75,000 for a so called lottery dont complain!

Maybe some are better off than others, but believe me, many of our senior are not wealthy. A fixed income, prices rising on everything, and no prospects of making any more money are not the things dreams are made of. It's just like the rest of the population - there are some who have it and some who don't. Don't generalize about the entire senior community.

Barbara clearly the ones who get bilked have it or how would they lose it. The ones eating dinner out every night, or all dolled up all the time, have it. Like I said in my previous post I used to feel sorry but no more all I see now is greed.

Yes some dont have it & yes they have to watch their $$ but some of these drive to 5 different grocery stores to save $1.00 but waste $3.00 in gas doing it,or go daily just to buy enough to make a sandwich. We are on a fixed income its called salary pay check, no room to toss money out on lottery for us that $20 a week or more has to go for gas in our car to get to a job we hate, but have to pay the bills..... Bottom line dont waste your money on lottery and you wont be suckered! Feel sorry for these
people but really $75,000 to claim your prize?

Wow...lots of hostility toward the elderly on here. It's easy to sit back and call these people stupid, but they lived through a very different time. Some are very gullible because they simply cannot fathom that there is such evil in the world to prey on old people. And to say they are rich if they have 75k....how do you know its not their entire life savings. And btw 75k doesn't take you very far when u r elderly, not working, on a fixed income with high medical or prescription costs. Maybe they want to believe these things are true so they can have some money to live off of or pay their bills. I feel sorry for them and I do not feel they are stupid as many of you do....they are just vulnerable.

Yes, I detect a lot of negative thoughts here, too. If you're young and healthy and able to work, be thankful for that. Don't begrudge the old folks. We need to have more compassion. You never know what might be coming around the corner for you.Good wishes to all.

Of course I could tell the story of how I bought celery seed at my local Stop N Shop last summer, only to bring it home and find a big "hole" in the top paper part after you take off the cap... I took it back, to show the manager in case someone was putting something in the spices lol... the manager told me, that the "older shoppers" are bringing baggies into the store, poking holes in the spices, taking out what they need by pouring it into the baggies!!! The have caught them...on camera...they are ALSO throwing their food items "over" the self check out scanners, so they don't have to pay for the items..the Manager told me!! "These are not people that are hurting for money" I was told, they drive expensive cars......we have a huge problem with this, in thie area... which happens to be Whiting...I myself am 56, this is not complaining, this is just plain disgust!! The dollar store clerk caught someone taking garden flags out of the wrappers ....they are a DOLLAR mind you...and stuffing them in their purse......come on now!!! when does the mentality of "I am entitled" stop...?? in these cases...........just sayin....

I feel sorry for them also. I guess none of you have parents that this could happen to. If it did, would you call them stupid? One never knows what's around the block.. We all get old. how do you know where the money comes from for dinner, nails, etc? I have a friend that helps his mother and it's her fun money.

Obviously these elders are unable to make good decisions. Maybe a family member should step in and take charge of their finances.

Many older people do not have family who is willing to step in.

And I don't understand the whole thing on here with people saying how elderly people have all kinds of money, etc. I am sure there are those who are wealthy, but the vast majority of seniors especially in this area are just getting by....using savings and getting help from family. And @RoeRoe ...to say that elderly people have the entitlement mentality is ridiculous. In our country the elderly get screwed. Unless you are sooo low on the scale where you qualify for Medicade. Otherwise the healthcare costs to elders is unreal. People work hard their whole life to have a little money for when they get old....and it can be wiped out with the bills from one hospitalization. We as a nation do not treat our elders the way many other countries do...financially or otherwise.

All I have to say is that there are nice people and not so nice people in all demographics. This senior population is not that of my grandparents. They do seem more entitled and angrier. I personally feel I owe them nothing more to them than the next person they are not my elders. They are quick to pass judgement on others. I can vouch for what goes on at a local grocery store my daughter has worked there for almost two years. If they think hospital bills cannot wipe out a younger families savings they should come to my house.

Now they have programs to help families like New Jersey Family Care and alot of county programs. People should look into them. They never had those programs when the older generation where raising their families. I think the the people who are caught in this economy and having a hard time are also very angry due to their situations When I read the paper it's not the seniors robbing houses, selling drugs, etc.

Oh yeah read again some seniors got busted in The past few weeks For selling prescription drugs. And all those services you talk about dont exist unless you are practically living on The street. My family is drowning in Medical bills do you know who helps us no one. Why? Because I drag my arse To Work each day no matter how sick I am And my husband also works. So we qualify For nothing. Bubkus.

Seventy-three-year-old Oklahoma drug dealer Darlene Mayes was busted this week when police uncovered four pounds of pot and $276,000 in Mayes’ home.

Mayes initially claimed that the money was for her retirement fund but the police didn’t buy it. Police found the cash stashed in $15,000 bundles and said Mayes was packing a semiautomatic pistol and a revolver.

According to investigators, Mayes drug dealing spanned across four states including Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Referred to as the ”mastermind” of the operation, police believe Mayes supplied 40 percent of the weed in the area and had a network of dealers including her son Jerry who was also arrested.
Law enforcement Brad Garrett said senior citizens can sometimes be the most efficient drug dealers because no one expects it.

Authorities had been watching Mayes and her family months before the bust. They believe Mayes has been running the drug operation for over two decades. Mayes faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony, and keeping a home where drugs were kept and sold. If convicted, she’ll have to pay a severe fine and serve time in jail.

Gotta give Darlene Mayes credit. At least she wasn't attached to the welfare rolls.....LOL!!!!!! Go Granny!!!!

Not insinuating anything. Just saying that not all seniors are living so honestly on their fixed incomes. There is a local case in The last few weeks that happend off Mule Road I will find The article.

BTW my parents are Seniors And you would have To pry 75k from their hands without handing them something tangible in return.

@oldsoldier you over analyzed my post. I don't need to volunteer at a nursing home or with seniors. I take care of my own family which included my grandparents when they were alive and luckily my parents and in laws are still with all of their wits mosts days. I work with developmentally handicapped adults so if you really want to see a demographic of people with a severe lack of family involvement I suggest you go volunteer with them to see how good you have it. Don't you dare judge me.

@SoMuchToSay my friend. I have a decent job. I had a career before my children were born but they were my priority and once we moved to the shore I was never able to get a job in my field again and I was not willing to commute north/ My husband was tops in his field until the housing market went bust. Thankfully things are getting better. Ok insurance but the premiums have skyrocketed. I have not crashed and burned in my life. Well not in the way you mean. My body has failed me at 44 and I have a chronic illness. So I am not sure who is feeding you the information you are going on but it does not surprise me that you are jumping to conclusions you always do. I wear your disgust for me like a badge of honor.

@oldsoldier I have nothing against the elderly or you. Bad day yesterday got some not so great news and should learn not to post it comes out in my words. I think many people in this community who would normally not do criminal acts are out of desperation. And I think many common criminals are just using that excuse. Have a good day.

Correction in this economy people do desperate acts to maintain their families.

Wow so many heartless people commenting on this, it's very sad. The elderly in this community and any community should be respected for the people they once were and whom they have become. Quite a lot of them I'm sure are not in the mental capacity they should be in order to live alone, yet they don't have a choice. Instead of condemning them and calling them "stupid", how about you have some compassion. Wouldn't you want someone to have compassion for your elderly relatives? I know I would.

The point of this story is that there are scumbags out there just preying on the most vulnerable people in the world...the elderly and children. So with the mentality of most above - if a child is kidnapped, are they stupid? They were told since they were 2 years old not to talk to strangers, never get into a strangers car...does it make them stupid because THEY were the victim of a crime? No, same with the elderly. They are trusting, too trusting and naive....same as the elderly....you people need to realize, you will be these elders eventually...have a little respect.