Hamilton Grey Power September 2017

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It’s a sad reality that cunning scammers target our seniors From page 1 New Zealand’s Banking Ombudsman, Nicola Sladden, says scammers use a range of different techniques to develop a “friendship” with their victim, play on their emotions and actively discourage them from talking about the apparently “great investment opportunity” on offer with their real and trusted friends and family. One big red flag is a so-called “friend” who never actually appears in person, but only ever wants to talk over the phone or via email. As Minister for Seniors I am very aware that some of our older people are very trusting and potentially vulnerable to this type of fraud, especially if they are lonely or isolated and in need of companionship. But couples and families can also become victims. One recent case involved an older couple in their seventies losing their savings in a Hong Kong investment scam. Within eight weeks of first being hooked by the scam, they had withdrawn their entire life savings of $70,000 and started taking out loans with their bank to capitalise on the “investment”. The bank did ask why they had made the withdrawals but they had been persuaded not to say anything by the scammer. The Ombudsman felt the bank ought to have taken its inquiries further and recommended it refund half the loans the couple had taken out. But they still lost half their savings because it was judged they should have done their own due diligence more thoroughly before signing away their money. Another common type of scam is called “phishing”, when the victim receives an email or phone call claiming to be from their bank and asking for personal details about their account numbers and passwords. The email may even have a link to a website which is designed to look like your bank but it could all be fake. You need to be aware that once you send them your details they will have everything they need to access your money. Under no circumstances should you ever hand over your banking details on the phone or via email – no bank would ever ask for them and if in any doubt you should phone or contact your bank directly to verify if it is genuine. You can read more about how to avoid scams and how your bank and Banking Ombudsman can help on the Office for Seniors website: www. superseniors.msd.govt.nz. Ombudsman’s guide on banking Make sure you know who you are dealing with. Do an internet search and look for reviews. Check Consumer Affairs’ scam alert website, ask for a physical address you can check, and look the company up on the Companies Register. Check with someone independent and trustworthy before you commit to anything. Do not give out account details unless the business is established and trusted. Never accept money into your account for subsequent transfer to others. Never give out your password. Check your accounts regularly to ensure money is only going to the right places. Report any likely scams to your bank and Consumer Affairs via its website. If you are emailing somebody about financial matters involving transferring money, check the arrangements with Continued on page 8 6 Hamilton greypower Magazine – September 2016
EBBETT HOLDEN NOT NEW BUT NEARLY!! ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD SAVE THOUSANDS!! SEE PAGE 28 President’s report AN EXCELLENT TURNOUT ENJOYED OUR MID-YEAR CHRISTMAS LUNCH AND THE LADIES IN THE CAFE DID US PROUD. FIVE PRIZES DRAWN ON THE DAY ADDED SOME EXCITEMENT. We are working to further update our 25-year-old computer system. This will enable us to set up our data base in alphabetical order, check online banking payments for membership and also print envelopes. We will save a lot of time and cut out errors. While we are looking to improve all the time, I must apologise to any members who received a remindernotice for subs due when you had already paid. My deputy Jack Thomas is improving after suffering a heart attack and is looking forward to coming back in the next few months. We all wish him well. Peter Boyes has been standing in for him running the Monday morning seminars. Thanks Peter. At our recent seminars we had the co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw speak to us. He was very interesting and a fresh new face in politics. A couple of weeks later the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters spoke. He attracted more than 200 to our seminar (standing room only), was a crowd favourite and in fine form. He spoke about many issues. It was interesting to note NZ First will not be aligning with any other party until after the election. A priority for NZ First is housing and social housing and senior citizens. At present NZ superannuitants total more than 650,000. This number is due to rise to one million in about 10 years. It was good to hear from one of the new and one of the not so new faces of government. Tragically Hamilton City Council sold off all of its pensioner housing, more than 400 properties for $23 million last year. The purchasers paid a $2 million deposit and nothing more for four years. I wonder what they would be worth now after the recent boom in house prices? I represented you in submissions to council to not sell pensioner housing. I even marched and joined other concerned groups in Garden Place with a symbolic coffin, the death of pensioner housing. The annoying thing to me is HCC has no policy on pensioner housing which could at least enable providers some incentive to come here. I have put my hand up again for the coming elections as a candidate in the East ward. Whatever happens I hope to remain as your president and I will continue to press council hard to keep rates affordable and to recognise the forgotten community of superannuitants. Regards ROGER HENNEBRY President 40153 Re-elect Roger HENNEBRY I’ve been listening and I care Supporting: • An age-friendly safe city • Alcohol restrictions to curb anti-social behaviour • Parking free in CBD • A new Founders Theatre regionally funded • No water meters or sale of assets • Keeping rates down to a minimum Together let’s put the heart back into Hamilton Phone 854-0223 | rogerhennebry@yahoo.co.nz Auth: Roger Hennebry, 5 Charles Henry Place, Hamilton Hamilton greypower Magazine – September 2016 7
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Hamilton Grey Power September 2017

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