Top twenty tips on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud
We were privileged on Saturday, May 16, 2026 to welcome retired Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood for a free, in-person presentation on recognizing and avoiding fraud. Scroll down for seminar resources. You can view the recording of the seminar here:
Resources
Paul mentioned in Tip #17 that if you are considering a guardian/conservator for someone:
- Read this article in The New Yorker: How the Elderly Lose Their Rights
- Watch the 2018 documentary film The Guardians, available on Tubi, Pluto, or Amazon Prime Video.
Former church member Jeanette Voss invited us to share her incredible story of a $950,000 scam and later recovery.
There are many, many ways that scams start (fake emails; tech support; impersonation of government, bank, or technical personnel; fake alerts about a loved one in hospital or jail; long-distance romantic interest; etc.). Any time you are dealing with someone you don’t know well, especially if finances or access to your property is involved, watch out for the S-C-A-M:
S – Stop, take a breath, don’t rush.
C – Check, look closely.
A – Ask someone you trust.
M – Mention and report it.
About Paul Greenwood
Paul Greenwood was a solicitor in England for 13 years. After relocating to San Diego in 1991 he passed the California Bar and joined the DA’s office in 1993. For twenty-two years, Paul headed up the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit at the San Diego DA’s Office. In 1999, California Lawyer magazine named Paul as one of their top 20 lawyers of the year in recognition of his pioneering efforts to pursue justice on behalf of senior citizens.
In March 2018, Paul retired from the San Diego DA’s office to concentrate on sharing lessons learned from his elder abuse prosecutions with a wider audience. In October 2018, he was given a lifetime achievement award by his former office.
Paul now spends much of his post-retirement time speaking on behalf of AARP nationally, consulting on elder abuse cases, testifying as an expert witness, and providing trainings to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services agencies across the country and internationally. He is also involved as the criminal justice board member of National Adult Protective Services Association.
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