Peoria County Sheriff’s Office: News
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert
Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
August 2007
Linda Glackin, President, Peoria County TRIAD, and Coordinator of Victim Services, Peoria Police Department
This month we are going to shift gears a little and give the male version of the "new found friend" some attention. Again, not all criminals are alike and each one often develops their own special tricks. This month we are hoping to provide you with some characteristics that both law enforcement and social services have seen in this type of criminal.
First, this criminal may introduce himself directly or you may meet him through another friend or acquaintance. He may actually come with a good recommendation for the work that he does. That is because he needs to establish a reputation for being a "good guy." That is until he finds the richest or most willing victim.
Secondly, he will have a hard luck story. His story will often be very detailed and very believable - at first. He may have been wronged by his family, friends, ex-wife, former employer, the military, and the criminal justice system or by society in general. He will admit that he has made some mistakes but he is trying to change. He is just looking for someone to give him a chance. Maybe you are that person. He will try and find some link to you, so that you can relate to his hard times.
Thirdly, he has a substance abuse issue. He may not admit it at first. When and if he does, he will minimize his use or addiction. He may claim he is in or has been through treatment, but staying sober is really hard when no one trusts you. Now he is playing on your emotions. He is not a bad person. He just has a problem with alcohol, pot, cocaine or prescription medications. Since much of his addictive behavior is illegal, he has had contact with the criminal justice system.
Which leads to caution number four. He has a history with law enforcement. He may admit that he has had a few "run ins" or "scrapes" with "the law". Again, he will minimize his accountability and blame the "cops" or someone else for what happened. Again, he will focus on the fact that he is trying to change, but just needs a chance. He sees you as the person who can help him.
Finally, the fifth red flag on the list gets to the heart of the matter - he needs financial help. He needs help paying his rent, he needs food for his kids, he needs money for gas, he has lots of bills and no way to pay. But, he doesn't want a hand out - not yet. He will work for his pay. He can do lots of things, odd jobs around the house, yard work, run errands for you, drive for you. The kind of things an elderly person might need some assistance with.
In the best of situations, this new found friend would take his victim for anything from a few dollars, to a few million dollars. In the very worst situation, he will take his victim's life.
These five red flags are only the beginning of the profile of your "new found friend". In September, we will detail how these incidents continue to unfold and the unfortunate consequences to the victims. But, we will also look at the help that is available to end a criminal's behavior as "new found friend".
In its continuing effort to keep seniors informed, the Peoria County Triad, along with PCCEO Foster Grandparents is sponsoring a special event for seniors. Micah Roderick, Program Specialist with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Office will be in Peoria on Thursday, October 18th. He will be at Valeska Hinton Education Center, 800 W. 5th Avenue, Peoria, from 10:00am until noon, to provide information and answer questions about crimes against seniors. Refreshments will be available and seniors are urged to attend. For more information please contact Malinda Duncan, Foster Grandparents, 671-3950.
For information on the Peoria County Triad or about services available to crime victims, please contact: in the City of Peoria, Linda Glackin, 494-8309 or in the County of Peoria, Beth Bernard, 697-7855.
Other news
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 24, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
Peoria County Triad- Scam Alert Aug 23, 2007 (updated on Aug 24, 2007)
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