On April 10th, Michael & Melissa Woodward were arrested on felony charges for a scam that cost senior citizens in Southern California at least $1.9 million. The middle aged couple sold contracts for unlimited in-home senior services at a pre-paid annual fee. While low cost services such as house cleaning were often paid for to attempt to retain some level of legitimacy, the couple would reject claims for more expensive services that were supposed to be covered by the pre-paid plan. Often the couple would actually return to the victims’ home in order to claim additional premiums above and beyond the original cost of the plan.
The insurance fraud division of San Diego believes that there are many more elderly that were swindled by the couple but have not yet come forward. They are asking for any other potential victims to contact them at 800.927.4357. The division wants to get as accurate of information on the scam as possible and to help the victims attain some restitution.
When we hear of situations like these, we try to take the opportunity to remind our clients to be very cautious with their trust and their money. Ask advice from your loved ones and have them verify if the company is legitimate. Also, if a deal sounds “too good to be true” then it most likely is. There are many unscrupulous individuals out there who use the elderly as a target for their scams. Be cautious, ask questions and be wise in your decisions so that you are not deceived.
About Morris Hall:
At Morris Hall, we have focused our legal practice on estate planning for over 40 years. Along with estate planning, our attorneys help clients and their families with matters of probate, trust administration, wills, power of attorneys, business planning, succession planning, legacy planning, charitable gifting and other important legal aspects. We also have divisions in financial, real estate and accounting to help you incorporate all of your planning together, ensuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead. Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!
This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.
In fact, estate planning, asset preservation and probate law have been our only areas of practice. We are proud to have helped thousands of individuals of all levels of wealth and assets, people concerned about protecting their families from the devastating legal and financial effects of disability and death.
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