Home » News » Crime
March 12. 2013 10:03PM
A Maine woman featured in a July 2012 New Hampshire Union Leader article about phone scammers who prey on the elderly is scheduled to testify today before a U.S. Senate committee investigating such scams.
Kim Nichols told a heart-wrenching story of her 76-year-old father being bilked out of $85,000 by a smooth-talking Jamaican woman who told him he'd won millions in a lottery. Her presentation to a forum in Manchester last July was part of an effort by telecommunications companies, law enforcement and senior advocates to bring attention to scams originating from the 876 Jamaican area code.
Nichols is on the witness list for today's hearing in Washington, D.C., titled "876-SCAM," before the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., is also scheduled to testify.
"It's especially disturbing that these ruthless scammers prey upon elderly citizens, and this hearing is an important opportunity to help ensure our seniors have the information and tools they need to protect themselves from these kinds of scams," said Ayotte, who served as the state's attorney general from 2004 to 2009.
The committee, of which Ayotte is a member, will receive testimony from other relatives of phone scam victims, law enforcement officials and officials from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, starting at 2 p.m.
The scam involves telephone calls originating from the Jamaican area code, which is frequently mistaken for a toll-free number. When the call is answered, the scammer congratulates the senior on winning the lottery and requests a processing fee in order to collect the prize.
The victims are told that their winnings will be transferred to their bank accounts once the fee is received, but of course the funds never arrive.
Nichols is part of a Maine group being hosted by FairPoint Communications, which launched a "Beware: Scams from Area Code 876" campaign in late March, and created a website, www.bewareof876.com, providing tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
The campaign gained national and international attention, prompting additional media coverage that led the Jamaican government to establish a task force to address the 30,000 calls made each day from Jamaica into the United States attempting to defraud American citizens.
The Senate committee is chaired by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is the aging panel's ranking Republican.
The hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 562, will be streamed live at aging.senate.gov.
dsolomon@unionleader.com
876-SCAM targets elders, ends up before special NH Senate panel
Kim Nichols told a heart-wrenching story of her 76-year-old father being bilked out of $85,000 by a smooth-talking Jamaican woman who told him he'd won millions in a lottery. Her presentation to a forum in Manchester last July was part of an effort by telecommunications companies, law enforcement and senior advocates to bring attention to scams originating from the 876 Jamaican area code.
Nichols is on the witness list for today's hearing in Washington, D.C., titled "876-SCAM," before the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., is also scheduled to testify.
"It's especially disturbing that these ruthless scammers prey upon elderly citizens, and this hearing is an important opportunity to help ensure our seniors have the information and tools they need to protect themselves from these kinds of scams," said Ayotte, who served as the state's attorney general from 2004 to 2009.
The committee, of which Ayotte is a member, will receive testimony from other relatives of phone scam victims, law enforcement officials and officials from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, starting at 2 p.m.
The scam involves telephone calls originating from the Jamaican area code, which is frequently mistaken for a toll-free number. When the call is answered, the scammer congratulates the senior on winning the lottery and requests a processing fee in order to collect the prize.
The victims are told that their winnings will be transferred to their bank accounts once the fee is received, but of course the funds never arrive.
Nichols is part of a Maine group being hosted by FairPoint Communications, which launched a "Beware: Scams from Area Code 876" campaign in late March, and created a website, www.bewareof876.com, providing tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
The campaign gained national and international attention, prompting additional media coverage that led the Jamaican government to establish a task force to address the 30,000 calls made each day from Jamaica into the United States attempting to defraud American citizens.
The Senate committee is chaired by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is the aging panel's ranking Republican.
The hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 562, will be streamed live at aging.senate.gov.
dsolomon@unionleader.com
- Portsmouth drug raid nets four arrests for sale of heroin - 0
- Manchester Market clerk robbed by man armed with knife - 1
- Man who spent days under Salem woman's trailer recording sentenced to prison - 2
- Man sought for attempting to lure girl into white van near Nashua school - 0
- Lawyer who made porn videos of teenage daughter gets 40 years in jail - 34
- Trial delayed for Epping man charged with shooting romantic rival - 9
- Former editor indicted on child porn charges - 3
- Somersworth man indicted for Market Basket robbery in Epping - 1
- Former editor indicted on child porn charges - 2
Police say man detained as part of investigation into death scene in Belmont
READER COMMENTS: 1- Talk of UNH logo change brings out passions - 3
- John Habib's City Sports: Gosselin stepping down as city AD - 0
- Lackey sharp as Red Sox pound Cleveland, Masterson - 0
- Manchester Vet Center just 'a great place' - 0
- NHIAA Roundup: Bedford netmen earn spot in state final - 0
- NHIAA Scoreboard, May 24, 2013 - 0
- NHIAA Div. I Track: Lynch, North boys prevail - 0
- Two found dead in Belmont; one man detained as part of investigation - 0
- Weather this weekend may be more like Veterans Day - 0
Sox in the city: World champs' appearance highlighted Gill Stadium opening
READER COMMENTS: 0| Follow us: | ||
 |
 |
 |
- Should applicants for jobless benefits have to pass a drug test?
- Yes
- 78%
- No
- 22%
- Total Votes: 1424