Postmaster Prevents Elderly Fraud

Palm Beach Postmaster Valarie Rother

Financial frauds targeting seniors have become so prevalent that they’re now considered “the crime of the 21st century.” Why? Because seniors are thought to have a significant amount of money sitting in their accounts.

Financial scams also often go unreported or can be difficult to prosecute, so they’re considered a “low-risk” crime. However, they’re devastating to many older adults and can leave them in a very vulnerable position with little time to recoup their losses.

Recently, Palm Beach Postmaster Valarie Rother recognized the signs of financial fraud and saved an elderly customer from mailing a $500 money order via Priority Mail Express. Rother had overheard a conversation between Sales and Services Associate Joel Velez and the customer. Rother shared her suspicion with the customer. The customer opened up to Rother and shared that recently, she had inherited “a little bit of money” and now had been receiving “a lot of calls.”

“I implored her to keep her money as I was afraid this was fraud,” Rother said.

Rother took the customer’s phone number and contacted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. The customer went home and thought about Rother’s suspicion and contacted her financial advisor who also shared the Postmaster’s concern. The customer returned to the Post Office.

“I was so happy she returned. We cashed her money order to provide a refund,” Rother said. “I told her that I was proud of her and suggested that she not answer any other calls of this nature, and to consider changing her phone number.”