Holidays are a time to watch for scams, Sheriff Pohlmann says

Everyone would like extra money for the holidays, but criminals want to take yours.

Rarely does a holiday season go by without someone trying to pull a scam, often on the elderly, to separate people from their money, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“When you have Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s on your mind and thinking about something you are going to be doing or you are shopping for food or presents, you may not be fully alert to people who want to take advantage of you,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

But still be alert for things that don’t seem right, he said.

Recently, an older St. Bernard Parish woman was defrauded in a phone scam when a caller claimed he was from a Social Security Administration office and ended up getting financial information from her.

The woman later learned fraudulent charges had been made on a credit card.

Sometimes people call and claim an individual has won a cash prize that will be sent to them when they send a money order to cover a service charge, and of course, there was no prize, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Last December, the sheriff said, a Chalmette man was defrauded in a version of the old “drop the pigeon’’ scheme. Typically, someone approaches the intended victim claiming they have found money or have money to give to a charity – and may even show it to you- then say they will split it if you put up “good faith’’ money of your own.

When the victim delivers the cash, they are either robbed or there is a switch of packages. The victim is left with a stash of cut-up paper he or she thought was the share of money they would get and their own money is gone with the stranger.

“Don’t listen to anyone trying to gain your confidence’’ in such a way, Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Use your experience in life. If something doesn’t look right, it isn’t right. No one is going to give you something for nothing. Walk away without giving or even showing them your money.’’

Sheriff Pohlmann also said, “Remember what a con man once told law enforcement when he was arrested: His aim, he said, wasn’t to get something over on the victim as much as it was to make the victim feel he was getting something over on the person offering him the chance at money. That’s where the word con comes from – gaining someone’s confidence so you could steal from them.”