Desert Messenger

September 19, 2018 www.DesertMessenger.com 15 Good news for grandparents! In Memoriam David "Crockett" V. Owens BRENDA, AZ- David "Crockett" V. Owens of Brenda, AZ passed away at home Saturday, September 1, 2018 following declining health. Born to Hazel (Carroll) and Vernon Owens on August 1, 1953 in Cedar Rapids, IA, he later moved to the Corning/Waverly, NY area as an adult, and then retired in a land he loved- Brenda, AZ. David attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, later attending Iowa State University. He spent many years as an inde- pendent contractor before retiring from Harding Harley- Davidson in Corning, NY where he worked as a service writer. David a man with true grit was also a free spirit. He enjoyed landscap- ing, hunting, prospecting, 4-wheel- ing, Harleys, and traveling. He was always in his element in the great outdoors and loved the "land of the free and home of the brave"- a true Patriot and Oath Keeper. He was also a Master Mason, a member of the ChemungValley/Waverly F. & A.M. Lodge 350. David is survived by his wife, Mir- acle (Park) Owens of Brenda, AZ/ Waverly, NY; daughters, Amy Stro- man of Chenango Forks, NY and Kiara Stroman of Sayre, PA; son, Cody Owens of Denver, CO; broth- er, Gary (Vicki) Owens of Palo, IA; sister, Linda Owens of Cedar Rap- ids, IA; Barbara (William) Moss of Cedar Rapids, IA; Verna Owens of St. Johnsbury, VT; brother-in-law, Bill (Katie) Park of Lockwood, NY; brother-in-law, Harry (Tammy) Park of Conover, NC; several nieces and nephews; and many friends, near and far. He is preceded in death by his par- ents; sister, Sandra (Owens) Ander- sen; and special aunt, Alberta "Aunt Bertie" Owens. At David's request no services will be held. Burial will take place at Tioga Point Cemetery in Athens, PA at a later date. The family suggest memorial con- tributions be sent to The Amputee Coalition: https://www.amputee- coalition.org/ways-to-give/honor- a-loved-one. Condolences may be sent to 46361 E. Bighorn Way, Salome, AZ 85348 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? BBB Scam Tracker Reports That Scam Risk Decreases with Age (Lake Havasu City, AZ - September 10, 2018) In honor of Grandparents Day, Better Business Bureau (BBB) shared a new study: senior consumers have the lowest risk of being scammed, ac- cording to the 2017 BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report. But that doesn't mean scammers aren't targeting this demographic. While data shows sus- ceptibility declines with age, older scam victims reported higher median losses. This is most likely due to dif- ferent types of scams aimed at this group, as well as their access to great- er fi nancial resources. Scams Targeting Seniors The following scams frequently target seniors over other age groups. In these scams, con artists take advantage of seniors' strong ties with their family, other social groups, religious organiza- tions and charities. They also prey on seniors who feel isolated. In the case of romance scams, these frequently tar- get older people who have lost spouses and are looking for companionship. • Grandparent or emergency scams: This trick begins with a phone call from someone posing as your grand- child, niece or nephew, or other young family member. Scammers research victims using social media and often know family names, travel plans and other details. The phony grandchild will claim to be out of town and in an emergency situation – anything from a car accident to wrongful arrest. The scam artist will urge you to send mon- ey ASAP and to not tell mom or dad. Read more about emergency scams. • Investment cons: These cons often target seniors because of their greater fi nancial resources. They frequently prey on longstanding group con- nections – such as a religious orga- nization or an ethnic group – where members trust each other. Even if you are a savvy investor you can still fall victim to this scam. Con artists are masters of persuasion and they often learn the weaknesses of their targets and adjust their pitches accordingly. Read more about investment cons. • Romance scams: Seniors who are widowed or divorced are frequent tar- gets of romance scams. These scam- mers prey on lonely people looking to connect and will often take months to develop before ever asking for money. The emotional harm to the victim can be even more painful than the mon- etary loss. Con artists create compel- ling backstories, full-fl edged identi- ties and then trick you into falling for someone who doesn't even exist. Read more about romance scams. Tips to avoid these cons: • Get another perspective. All of the above cons work because the target feels ashamed – or pressured – and keeps the scam a secret. If you've been target- ed by something that seems suspicious, don't be embarrassed to seek an outside opinion from friends or family. • Do your research. If something seems strange – a new romance ask- ing for money or an out-of-the blue emergency – search for it online. Scammers often reuse images or sto- ries. Past victims will post about their experiences online, and you can learn from their tales. BBB.org/Scam- Tracker is a good place to read about others' experiences. • Know what your family members are sharing online. Seniors can be susceptible to emergency scams and other ploys because they aren't famil- iar with the information about them- selves and their family available on- line. You may not have control over your family's social media accounts, but familiarize yourself with what they are sharing on Facebook and other outlets. • Resist the urge to act immediately. This rule holds true no matter the type of scam. Con artists almost al- ways will pressure you into acting be- fore you've had time to think it over. Don't cave to the pressure! • Be wary of anything too good – or too outrageous – to be true. As much as we want to believe we can make millions with a small investment or win the love of a gorgeous stranger, chances are it's not true. For more information or to sched- ule an interview with a BBB spokes- person, please contact Debi Pen- nington at 928-302-3701 or debi. pennington@bbbcommunity.org

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