MARQUETTE -- The Marquette City Police Department says they're seeing more reports of scams than ever, and there's a definite target group of individuals. Even more alarming, there's not a lot they can do to fight this problem.
Evelyn McKindles is an independent senior citizen who prides herself on taking an active role in her community. But there's one part of her life that she says has become a major inconvenience. Scams. They come without fail everyday in the mail, and she gets a couple phone calls every week.
She says she hasn't fallen for any.
"$500,000 and a Mercedes Benz was supposed to be delivered to my door. Who do they think we are? Stupid??" said Mrs. McKindles.
But that doesn't mean others don't buy into it.
According to a 2010 study from the Investor Protection Trust, 1 out of 5 Americans over the age of 65 has been victimized by fraud. And it's not just senior citizens.
"They prey on those in a difficult situation; people in hard financial times are more willing to take a leap of hope, that this is more legitimate," said Detective Sergeant Michael Kohler of the Marquette City Police Department.
McKindles has kept the addresses of those requesting money from her but is disappointed with the way the matter has been dealt with by local police.
"They know it's out there, that people are asking seniors to send money, and no one is doing anything to stop it," McKindles argued.
"We can't always do something about it, there's no law against calling people and asking for money," Kohler explained.
And when fraud is committed? More often than not, the origin is a third-world country, creating a jurisdiction problem for the Marquette Police Department.
Instead, they've got to fight this trend before the crime is committed. They urge anyone to call or stop by the police department if they're unsure if an offer is fraudulent.
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