Windham Public Safety Officer Matt Cyr hosted a talk on how seniors can protect themselves from being the victim of scammers and identity thieves last Wednesday at the Unity Gardens senior living center on Route 115 in Windham.

The information Cyr presented was compiled by the National Crime Prevention Council, famous for its trench coat-shrouded bloodhound mascot, McGruff the Crime Dog.

The council said that 13 percent of the nation’s population is 65 or older, yet phone scam artists direct between 56 and 80 percent of their calls at seniors.

Cyr said that people are living longer today, and, as a result, seniors have more time to experience declines in their cognitive and physical functions. Older Americans often have accumulated assets, limited experience with investments, time to listen to sales calls and are often too polite to hang up the phone.

Another concern, Cyr said, is that many seniors don’t tell anyone when they’ve been scammed for fear of being perceived as too vulnerable to live on their own.

“Please, don’t ever be afraid to call us,” Cyr said.

Scam artists often tell their victims they have won a cash prize and ask for bank account information or a deposit. Cyr said everyone has a voice inside their head that tells them when they should be more skeptical.

“Listen to that voice,” he said.

Seniors were advised to take down phone numbers from telemarketers making tempting offers. If it is a legitimate company, Cyr said, they will let you call them back.

Cyr said the best investment anyone can make is in a paper shredder, which can be purchased for $5 at a discount store. Identity thieves will go through trash looking for discarded mail and bank statements. He said to shred any financial record that is no longer needed and keep track of how much money they have in their accounts.

Cyr also recommended purchasing gel pens to write checks because their ink cannot be erased.

Because bills and pre-approved credit card offers have sensitive information, Cyr recommend using a slotted mailbox with a padlock. He also warned about sending mail from personal mailboxes and said public drop boxes are safer.

Another common attack point is passwords, such as debit card PINs. Cyr said not to use birthdays and anniversaries, as they can easily be guessed.

David Pratt, 63, of Raymond, had a $900 bill show up on his credit card a few years ago, but said he wasn’t held liable for it.

Since then, he has been flooded with telemarketing calls selling identity theft protection packages. He said he feels that they are targeting him because of the attack on his credit card.

“It’s gotten so bad I hang up on them as soon as they identify themselves,” said Pratt.

Don Foss, a senior whose son is a Lieutenant for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, said the talk was “very informative.” Foss, 63, lives at Unity Gardens and said he reads up to protect himself from Internet schemes.

“Everything is helpful,” said Catherine Bishop, 83, who lives at New Marblehead Manor in Windham. “Especially when you live alone.”

Scam1 & Scam2: Public Safety Officer Matt Cyr speaks to seniors about scams and swindles at the Unity Gardens senior living center in Windham. Cyr said seniors are frequently targeted by con artists.Scam1 & Scam2: Public Safety Officer Matt Cyr speaks to seniors about scams and swindles at the Unity Gardens senior living center in Windham. Cyr said seniors are frequently targeted by con artists.