Police warn insurance fraud is on the rise

Caledon OPP reports to seeing an increase in fraudulent insurance documents produced during routine traffic stops.

Police are reminding people to be careful when purchasing auto insurance and to make sure that they are buying insurance from a reputable broker and insurance company. Unsuspecting consumers are being targeted by fake insurance companies selling auto insurance in Ontario.

Insurance crime is not victimless. According to the recent study conducted by KPMG and forwarded to the Ontario government, auto insurance fraud is conservatively estimated to cost Ontario drivers between $770 million to $1.6 billion per year.

“Do not buy insurance from any person at a coffee shop or on-line, unless they prove to be a reputable broker,” Richard Dubin, vice-president with Investigative Services for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, warned, adding thy should check the person through Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). “If it sounds too good to be true, stay clear.”

People who suspect they may have been offered or have bought a fraudulent auto insurance policy should take action immediately to confirm whether or not they have coverage. Contact the insurance company that is set out in the policy. Do not contact the broker or agent named in that policy.

A conviction of producing fraudulent insurance can cost, on a first conviction, a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $25,000. A subsequent conviction is subject to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $50,000. In addition, the driver’s licence may be suspended for up to one year.

People can also contact Insurance Bureau of Canada’s TIPS Line at 1-877-IBCTIPS or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (Phonebusters) at 1-888-495- 8501. In Ontario, they may contact the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario at 416-365-1900 or 1-800-265-3097.

Those with information on persons selling fake insurance cards or who suspect that a driver is operating a motor vehicle with a fake insurance card is asked to contact Caledon OPP at 905-584-2241.

20 Thing You Should Have In Your Surveillance Van- From Pursuit Magazine

Being prepared for just about anything is the name of the game when conducting surveillance. Different types of surveillance may require more preparation than other types, but regardless of the type, there are many basic items that every investigator should have in their vehicle. In this article I will share the items I carry in my vehicle at all times, as well as what other investigators have shared with me over the years.

GPS

When I began conducting surveillance almost 10 years ago I was fortunate to begin working for a company that provided lap top computers with a Microsoft Street and Trips mapping system. I would have my computer open while driving and I would follow the map on the computer. When GPS devices became moderately affordable I purchased one. Having a GPS device during surveillance provides me with several advantages.

Advantages

• I don’t have to map out my route prior to the surveillance. I just type in the address and head out. (You still need to Google Earth the area during your preliminary investigation)
• I can see what streets are coming up when following a subject. This allows me to anticipate dead end roads and intersections in an unfamiliar area.
• I can quickly find canvassing points like stores, restaurants and courthouses.

AC Power Inverter

If you are not familiar with this it is a device that plugs into your cigarette lighter and allows you to plug in things like your laptop computer, cell phone, or anything else you need to charge with a traditional household plug. I used to purchase the inverters from Radio Shack. Radio Shacks inverters (for me) would either burn out, or my battery in my vehicle would die without notice. There is nothing like having your subject leave their home and finding out that your vehicle battery is dead. After going through several of the Radio Shack inverters over the years I came across a Black and Decker Inverter (Black and Decker PI400AB Inverter) that has lasted several years. I checked the reviews on Amazon for the inverter I use and the ratings were unexpectedly low. I however have not had any real issues with mine. I actually have been happy with the product as it has two outlets and a USB port.

Advice when using an Inverter

When charging big items like a laptop make sure your vehicle is running. An alarm will trigger when the vehicle is not running (at least on the Black and Decker). Charging smaller items like phones, video cameras and other small electronic devices should not require the vehicle to be running. The fan on the inverter will really hum when you are charging your lap top.
During surveillance you are going to need to be able to look far away quickly. Every private investigator should own a pair of binoculars. The only thing you need to determine is the size and power of your binoculars. I personally use a small less powerful binocular from Bushnell. The binoculars are very small and compact. I have considered a more powerful set but I need to do some more research before I purchase them.

Jump Starter/Inverter/ Compressor

If you are asking yourself why you would need to have this in your car, I can confidently tell you that I have used this device more than I would like to admit. Surveillance vehicles wear down and fail at the worst moments even if you take care of your vehicle.
I have used the jump starter to jump my vehicle to make it to the closest auto parts store several times in my career. I have filled up a flat tire several times in the same surveillance as the individual traveled from location to location, and I have used the inverter portion of the device as a backup for when I had issues with the cigarette lighter. This is something that comes in handy to get you out of a bad situation.
The prices on these devices vary and they can be purchased at places Wal-Mart or Amazon. I am actually due to purchase another one myself. These devices average about $100.00 and up. They pay for themselves the first time you need it.

A Can of Fix a Flat

A can of Fix a Flat may help you get out of a jam. Fix a Flat from what I understand is designed to clog the leak in your tire for a short period of time until you can get the tire professionally fixed. I have heard however that this may ruin your tire but it will at least give you a chance to get to the nearest tire repair location. Never hurts to have it in your vehicle as a last resort.

Mono Pod

Steady documentation is very important to insurance related surveillance. Having a mono pod allows you to quickly obtain steady video documentation of your subject. I still remember the times when I never used a mono pod. I thought my documentation was steady until I went to court for a case and watched the video with a judge and attorneys present. What I thought was steady was really pretty shaky on a large television. I was embarrassed and disappointed and couldn’t wait for the video to be over.

Tri Pod

Tri Pods are great for documentation over an extended period of time. This is something that everyone should have at all times in their vehicle.

Video Camera/Charger/Backup battery

If you are going to be conducting surveillance you obviously need your video camera. Don’t assume you won’t need your charger. You never know what will happen during surveillance. It doesn’t hurt to have an additional battery for your camera.

Memory Cards/Tapes

If you are using a camera that uses 8mm tapes or Mini DV tapes it probably time to move on to a digital camera that uses a SD memory card. Regardless of your camera you will need to carry some extra tapes (if you still require them for your camera) or extra memory cards. Having an extra memory cards of 8 GB or more will give you piece of mind if you are obtaining large amounts of video or if for some reason you memory card has a malfunction for some reason.

Backup or Secondary Video Camera

A second video camera is always nice to have in case your primary camera breaks or stops working for any reason. I actually have a mini DV camera as an emergency camera. This is only because I have not purchase a second digital camera just yet.

Cameras

Yes that means more than one covert camera. Covert cameras are much less reliable than your regular video camera. Having more than one will keep you from having to explain to your client why important video was not obtained. I also carry additional micro SD card for my covert cameras because I never know when I will need an extra one.

Toilet Paper

This is just something that you should have on hand…Just in case. I don’t think I need to elaborate on this.

Cash

Just something that is good to have on hand in the off chance that you need it. I like to have cash on me when subject goes into a bar or restaurant. I can pay with cash and not have to wait for the waitress to bring me back my debit/credit card. Having a couple dollars in change for parking meters doesn’t hurt either.

Overnight bag

An overnight bag with toiletries, and at least one set of clothes and a jacket is the minimum you should have in your car. Having more than that is even better. I carry additional clothes for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I change clothes if I follow subjects into several different stores to change my appearance. I also have a change of clothes in the off chance my subject travels out of town and my client request that I stay with the subject over night. Instead of buying clothes every time I follow my subject for long distances I just have them on hand.

Additional Food and Water

Having additional dry snacks like crackers, chips etc… are good things to have for backup food when your surveillance goes longer than you expected. I have worked a surveillance case expecting to only work 8 hours on that specific day and packed a lunch to get me through that day. The subject decides to be very active on that specific day and I end up working 15 hours. The backup snacks and water help me keep going until the surveillance ends and I can go and get a proper dinner.

Pee Bottle/Portable camping toilet

Any large bottle with a screw cap should be appropriate for men during surveillance. A Portable Camping Toilet for women should be more than enough. I knew a female investigator that drove a full size van and would not think of getting a different type of vehicle because she wanted to use her Portable Camping Toilet.

Flashlight

Any size flashlight will be appropriate. I carry a small one I purchased at Home Depot.

Tool Set

A tool set to make minor repairs to your vehicle. My battery died on my way home from a case that was 2 hours away. I won’t get into all the details but I didn’t have the appropriate tools to remove my battery. Having a socket wrench set would have saved me money and time when changing out my battery.

Window Shades

Window shades not only keep the sun out of your vehicle but also keep light from entering your vehicle. This allows the tint on your windows to do their job and not allow people or your subject to see within your vehicle. Blocking the front window with window shades also keeps people from seeing you videotaping as they pass the front of your vehicle.

Use your Imagination

I have known other private investigators that have carried these items and other random items in their vehicle just to be prepared for anything. I have known investigators to carry fishing poles, folding chairs, and sports equipment (soccer ball, football, basketball). The main thing I am stressing to investigators everywhere is to be prepared for anything. Imagine explaining to your supervisor or client on how you were prepared for a situation that allowed you to obtain damaging video that saves a client millions of dollars on an insurance claim or how you were able to obtain video that proved infidelity. Or you can imagine how you weren’t prepared and you have to explain why you could not get that damaging video.
If you have any good suggestions that relate to this article feel free to add them in the comment section. And as always, thank you for reading.

About the Author:
Andrew Kidd is a private investigator during the day and a blogger by night. Andrew owns his own Private Investigations agency, Fortified Investigative Services. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with others interested in becoming private investigators as well as with others already in the industry

Senior scam prevention kit available

BARRIE - Home Instead Senior Care wants seniors to be savvy about scam artist tricks.
The Barrie office is offering a free senior fraud prevention kit to give people information about scams.

“Scam artists are specifically targeting seniors because they are the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian population and they are seen to be vulnerable for reasons such as their health, age, or even because they are more trusting,” said Dan Leonard, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Barrie.

According to Statistics Canada, about seven in 10 crimes against older Canadians are never reported to police because victims did not believe the incident was important enough to seek help or because they dealt with the issue personally, said Leonard.

For more information about the fraud protection kit, call 705-503-5501, or visit www.protectseniorsfromfraud.com.

Scams are more sophisticated: RCMP

As both the public and the police have become wiser to many kinds of frauds and scams, con artists have upped the ante. In recent days, the RCMP has issued warnings about current scams that have found their way into the wallets and bank accounts of Saskatchewan residents - and unfortunately, sophisticated scams like these are becoming more common.

"They are more sophisticated," said Const. Joska Gallant with RCMP F Division's commercial crime section of the types of schemes they're investigating these days. "I mean, they use various means to add legitimacy to their scams so they may be creating more legitimate looking websites, documentation, and they're just always changing the scam because they know people are catching onto them, so then they have to tweak it a little bit or make it a little more sophisticated in order to get the victims to bite - and a lot of time and effort is put into it."

Take for instance the "romance" scam where a fraudster reels in a potential victim for months or even longer in order to part that person from his or her money. Police are also still dealing with "computer virus" scams - where con artists ask for fees to fix a supposed virus - and Gallant said they've also seen "rental" scams that play on low vacancy rates by requesting upfront fees to hold a supposed property for a wouldbe renter.

More recently, the RCMP has warned about two types of cons - one called the "white money" scam and the other a time share resale scam.

In the first, people selling high-priced items are targeted through cash-only business deals. The victim, upon meeting with the fraudster, is shown blank paper the size of a bank note and told it's cash that's been altered to conceal it or prevent theft. The fraudster tells the would-be victim the "white money" needs to undergo a process to make it return to currency.

Police say the paper may show indicators of real currency when passed under an ultraviolent light and that suspects often demonstrate a process where two pieces of "white money" are placed on either side of a legitimate bank note. The victim is distracted and a sleight-of-hand exchange replaces the paper with real money to make the victim believe the process is legitimate. The goal of this scam is to have the victim fork over legitimate money in exchange for the worthless paper in future business deals.

The scam has been reported recently in southern Saskatchewan but police believe the group behind it is transient.

The time share resale scam targets people who have advertised their time shares for sale on the Internet with the scammer offering a quick sale with a high profit. Fees, such as maintenance fees, escrow fees or taxes, are requested up front prior to the final sale and the fraudster provides detailed official-looking documents that may require a signature or witness - so providing an air or authenticity. The scam has so far wrested more than $30,000 from Saskatchewan residents - $20,000 from one victim alone.

While there are legitimate companies that offer this type of service, not all are and the RCMP advises time share owners to do their homework before providing funds, since people can easily misrepresent themselves online as a legitimate company.

In general, Gallant noted that many people are "more cautious these days" and are more aware because of information police have released through the media. Because of that, con artists have had to look for new and more creative ways to achieve their ends.

"As fast as we catch onto them, they're coming up with new scams," she said.
While the perpetrators of these types of offences can be hard to catch - in part because many don't originate within the province - Gallant said police and other agencies have become better at working together to combat these crimes. For the general public, prevention is key and Gallant said it pays to research prior to handing over cash. The Better Business Bureau or Internet searches can be good resources as are the websites of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the RCMP and Saskatchewan's Consumer Protection Branch.

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of a fraud should contact their local RCMP detachment or police service.

New online scam holds computers for ransom

A new online scam that freezes computers with a message purportedly from RCMP and associating users with child pornography has moved across the world and into North America.
RCMP issued a warning about the new computer virus after receiving 200 reports since February of the malware attacking Canadian residents.

The "ransomware," which in recent years had been contained to Russia and nearby countries, freezes the computer and creates a pop-up message - claiming to be from the RCMP or other government agencies - informing users that their computer is associated with child pornography or illegal music downloading and demands a $100 payment to unlock the computer.

The mention of child pornography often shocks victims who rush to pay the ransom through an online payment service called Ukash. The illegal activity accusation mixed with a fake message from law enforcement scares people, said Sgt. Stephane Turgeon of the RCMP technological crime unit.
"People think it must be true and they'll be charged so maybe they should send the money right away," Turgeon said. "These messages are scams - never send money to somebody you don't know. RCMP and the government do not ask for money in this way."

RCMP have received one report of the scam in Saskatchewan. The malware is probably more widespread in Canada than the 200 reports to RCMP since it is likely many more people with affected computers have not reported the incidents, Turgeon said. People should not hesitate to report the scam since it could help the RCMP investigation, he added.

Investigations into computer scams are difficult because technology allows suspects to conceal their actual location through proxy servers in different countries and the malware's computer code changes often, Turgeon said.

"These are highly complex investigations involving international jurisdictions," he said. "The best way to investigate is through old-fashioned police work through interviewing witnesses and following tips."

The attacks appear to originate in eastern European countries, Turgeon said. The first widespread use of the malware happened in Russia several years ago, but has since moved across Europe and now North America.

The malware attacks out-of-date operating systems so computer users should make sure their operating systems and anti-virus and firewall software are running with the latest updates installed, Turgeon said. If you have an infected computer, take it to a technician who can remove the malware.
People can report incidents of the "ransomware" to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Identity theft support centre launched to combat Canada's largest growing crime

OTTAWA - Canada's fastest growing crime may have bank robbers reconsidering their options.

Fraud researchers and police say identity theft - which can range from credit card misuse to more serious violations such as impersonating someone to take out a mortgage - has led to an increase of organized crime in Canada.

"What's easier and what's safer - sitting in a basement somewhere, with a computer, stealing somebody's identity and all the funds out of their bank account or walking in with a gun into a bank?" said Kevin Scott, president of the Canadian Identity Theft Prevention Association. "This is obviously where a lot of criminals are migrating right now."

Scott says children are now also becoming victims because some criminals manage to steal social insurance numbers from infants.

"This is really one of the issues that is starting to happen throughout North America," he said.

To combat these problems, a new centre for identity theft victims was officially launched in Vancouver Thursday.

The Canadian Identity Theft Support Centre, funded by the feds and private partners, has been set up to help victims dealing with the fallout of identity theft. It has a help line - 1-866-436-5461 - and four employees who can provide step-by-step support on the phone.

The centre began its work back in April but it did not officially launch its operation until now.

Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart applauds the move to open the operation but she says there are existing legislative gaps which continue to pose hurtles.

Stoddart says the passage of two key pieces of legislation - including an anti-spam bill - would help to reduce concerns.

The RCMP, which is also working to crack down on identity theft on the enforcement end, says it difficult to crack down on the crime once it is committed, especially due to technology.

Anatomy of an astonishing elder fraud: One couple's losses and hard lessons

RALEIGH, N.C. — With their elderly parents seated across the octagonal oak table, Donna and Jim Parker were back in the kitchen they knew so well — the hutch along one wall crammed with plates, bells and salt-and-pepper shakers picked up during family trips; at the table's corner, the spindly wooden high chair where a 7-year-old Jim had tearfully confessed to setting a neighbor's woods ablaze.

It was Christmastime, but this was no holiday gathering. Now, it was the parents who were in deep trouble, and this was an intervention.

For the past year, Charles and Miriam Parker, both 81, had been in the thrall of an international sweepstakes scam. The retired educators, with a half-dozen college degrees between them, had lost tens of thousands of dollars.

But money wasn't just leaving the Parker house. Strangely, large sums were now coming in, too.

Their four children were worried, but had been powerless to open their parents' eyes. Maybe, Donna thought, they'd listen to people with badges.

And so, joining them at the family table that late-December day in 2005 were Special Agent Joan Fleming of the FBI and David Evers, an investigator from the North Carolina attorney general's telemarketing fraud unit.

The home was littered with sweepstakes mailers and "claim" forms, the cupboards bare of just about everything but canned soup, bread and crackers. Charles Parker acknowledged that he'd lost a lot of money, but expressed confidence that he and his wife would eventually succeed if they just kept "investing."

Evers and Fleming showed the couple a video of other elderly scam victims, then played a taped interview of a former con man describing how he operated. Charles was alarmed by what he was seeing and hearing, but his wife seemed to be barely paying attention.

With the couple's permission, Evers installed a "mooch line" on the kitchen phone so they could capture incoming calls. The Parkers pledged their cooperation.

After gathering up some of the mailings for evidence, the officers left, encouraged by what seemed a few hours well spent.

But in the coming months and years, things would only get worse for the Parker family — much worse.

Not naive
The Parkers were hardly unsophisticated people, the type to be easily fooled.

Born in 1924, Charles Alexander Parker and Miriam Wilkinson were high school sweethearts back in Pitman, N.J. After Charles served in the Navy in World War II, they married and embarked on a life of learning and teaching.

This Thursday, April 19, 2012 photo shows a framed picture and other mementoes of Charles and Miriam Parker in their Raleigh, N.C., home.

Charles earned a doctorate in speech communications, and Miriam received a pair of master's degrees, one in special education. Along the way, Miriam gave birth to four children: Donna, Jim, Linda and Carole.

After other teaching stints, Charles Parker took a position in the English department at North Carolina State in Raleigh, from which he would eventually retire. In 1966, the couple built a split-level home, later converting the garage into a classroom for Miriam's special-needs pupils.

Through hard work and thrift, the Parkers were able to send all four children to college and pay off their home. Between their savings and Charles' pension, they were looking at a comfortable retirement.

Then the conman entered their lives.

Older Americans lose $2.9 billion a year to fraud, according to a study last year by the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech. Most victims are between 80 and 89, and most are women.

Using the latest technologies, "these criminals need not defraud their victims face-to-face," David Kirkman and Virginia H. Templeton wrote in a 2007 article for the journal Alzheimer's Care Today. From far away, "they can identify vulnerable seniors, contact them, and induce them to part with their savings."

A slowing down of brain function comes with normal aging, they noted. The elderly are susceptible to errors in judgment, particularly in situations where a snap decision is required — such as during a telemarketing call.

"Experience teaches us that those with mild dementia tend to be the most vulnerable," wrote Kirkman, an assistant attorney general in North Carolina, and Templeton, a gerontologist.

The Mayo Clinic defines "mild cognitive impairment" as an "intermediate stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more pronounced decline of dementia."

The basis for a diagnosis in many cases: falling victim to repeated scams.

Series of calls
No one can say exactly how the trouble began in the Parkers' case.

They might have made a small donation to some charity or responded to a sweepstakes letter they got in the mail. Somehow, the couple ended up on what people in the industry call the "sucker list."

Then the scammers proceeded to "reload" them.

You've won this multimillion-dollar lottery, they'd say. All you need to do is send us money to cover taxes, and we'll send you your prize.

So on Dec. 8, 2004, Miriam Parker — then 80 — drove herself to the Wal-Mart down the road to send a MoneyGram to Montreal, Quebec.

Isolation from absent children is often a hallmark in cases like this. But that wasn't so with the Parkers. Sure, Jim had settled in Ohio, and Carole was living in Florida. But Linda and Donna were both just down the road in Cary.

A busy real estate agent and teacher, Donna — the eldest — popped in as often as she could. But she'd always appreciated her parents for not trying to tell her and her siblings how to live their lives, and she did her best to return the courtesy.

In her parents' living room is a plaque that reads, "Mom's 10 Commandments for a Happy Household." No. 6: "If it rings, answer it."

And so, over a series of calls, Howard Clark — a man with a warm voice who called her "dear" and "sweetheart" — had learned enough personal information about Miriam to convince her that he was the family's ticket to riches.

This Monday, June 11, 2012 photo shows piles of official-looking sweepstakes and other mailings spread on a table at the North Carolina Attorney General's office in Raleigh, N.C. Officials say elderly people lose nearly $3 billion a year to such fraud. (AP Photo/Allen Breed)

Other MoneyGrams followed. Then, on Jan. 12, 2005, Miriam sent a Federal Express package to a "Mr. Stewart" on Papineau Street in Montreal. Inside, as instructed, was a magazine with $12,550 in cash sandwiched between its pages.

By May 2005, the Parkers had blown through their savings. They had tapped into their home equity line and had maxed out several credit cards. They were running out of things to give.

Unwittingly, their children had contributed to the problem. When Miriam asked Donna for a $7,000 loan, the daughter thought little of it.

Through most of their marriage, Charles Parker had taken care of the couple's finances. But in 1989, shortly after his retirement, he suffered a heart attack. That was followed by colon cancer. As her husband's health declined, Miriam stepped to the fore.

Faced with mounting debt — and clinging to assurances that a big payday was coming — she was determined to right their financial ship.

That's when she became a "money mule."

Family intervention
Howard told Miriam that she'd been "hired" by the Canadian sweepstakes company.

On May 5, 2005, a package from Bloomingdale, N.J., containing $8,275 in cash arrived at the Parkers' home. Others followed and in about a week, Miriam Parker would receive and repackage $60,000 in cash for delivery to Mr. Stewart.

Sometimes, there would be two stacks of bills tucked into magazines. The smaller pile was Miriam Parker's "commission."

Howard said she wasn't to tell her children about their dealings. But the kids had already become alarmed by changes in their mother's behavior.

During visits, Jim noticed that she would race him to the phone, then prevent him from listening to the conversations.

And then there was the need for loans. When Donna asked what for, her parents were evasive.

When the children finally persuaded their mother to get a credit report, the news was jaw-dropping. Their thrifty parents were nearly $200,000 in debt.

Miriam Parker insisted that their ship was about to come in, and that she would soon repay the loans. So Donna gave her a deadline.

In an email to the other siblings, she explained: "I told her that if the money was not there by Wednesday, July 6, the family would be forced to do things we do not look forward to."

The money, of course, did not come. It was time to get authorities involved.

Donna went to the state Attorney General's Elder Fraud Unit. Around that same time, she received a call from the FBI — her parents had popped up on their radar. It became apparent to authorities that the Parkers weren't truly willing participants in the scam. So they staged the December family intervention.

Donna allowed herself to hope that the people who'd ripped off her parents would be caught — and that they might even get some of their money back.

But a frantic phone call a couple of weeks later dashed those hopes.

"They're going to turn the gas off," her mother told her on a day with temperatures forecast to plunge into the 20s.

Eventually, the children were having to buy their parents' groceries.

Attorneys Donna contacted could offer no help — the elder Parkers hadn't been deemed incompetent, and it was their money.

In April 2006, Jim Parker and his wife Susan came to town for Donna's wedding. They were sitting in his parents' kitchen when the doorbell rang.

The FedEx driver handed Jim a crinkly envelope. He knew without opening it what was inside and turned it over to Kirkman, manager of the Elder Fraud Prevention Project in the AG's office.

When authorities opened the envelope, they found an old issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine. It contained $5,725 in cash from a Visalia, Calif., widow.

Kirkman called a contact at Federal Express, who ordered a stop on deliveries and pickups at the Parker home.

But the crooks just switched to United Parcel Service.

And now, in addition to money, they were delivering and picking up car tires and custom rims, and laptop computers worth thousands of dollars — all purchased by other elderly victims.

That's when state and federal authorities reached out to their counterparts north of the border.

Credit union
On Aug. 2, 2006, officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Surete du Quebec paid a visit to Dave Stewart.

The Jamaican native acknowledged accepting numerous packages from the American lady on behalf of a man whom he knew as "Roger." Stewart said he was paid $100 per package.

Professing ignorance of any illegal activity, Stewart agreed to cooperate.

This undated photo provided by the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office shows Clayton Atkinson.

Howard, meanwhile, gave Miriam a new address to which she should forward items.

On Aug. 17, 2006, laptops valued at more than $7,200 arrived from Hayward, Calif. She sent them to a "Joseph Reid" in the Montreal borough of Verdun. Parcels kept coming — from Texas and Massachusetts, South Carolina and Washington, Missouri and Maine.

In December 2006, the Parker kids persuaded their parents to grant Donna a limited power of attorney. A month later, she accompanied them to the credit union, where they took out a 30-year, $179,000 mortgage on their home.

Caught red-handed
Miriam Parker had become a cog in Howard Clark's fraud machine. The FBI's Fleming decided to turn the tables on him.

On April 3, 2007, Miriam phoned him — this time with Fleming recording.

"Howard?"

"Yes, dear," he replied sweetly.

As the conversation went on, Howard grew testy about her failure to send her packages quickly. In one case, he noted, trucks had left a UPS office just before an important package arrived from her. Send everything next-day air, he demanded.

When she asked whether she should go back to her former shipper, Howard cut her off: "No, you can't never go there again."

When she suggested that the person at the store was just trying to save her some money, Howard told her that was not their concern and to do as instructed. "I'm giving you the money to pay for this."

Perhaps sensing he'd been too hard, he changed his tone.

"Not to say that YOU are making the mistake, but maybe they are," he said. "And we can't afford for you OR them to make the mistake."

But this time it was Howard who'd made the mistake.

The FBI determined the pitch calls were coming from Montreal, and Mounties soon had a real name for "Howard Clark" — he was Clayton Atkinson, who had 13 convictions for assault, theft and weapons possession.

On April 13, 2007, officers from the RCMP raided Atkinson's apartment and caught him with the "pitch phone" in his hand.

In Raleigh, a federal grand jury handed up a 35-count indictment against Atkinson and two co-defendants — Dave Stewart and Jamaal McKenzie, aka "Joseph Reid." The three were charged with one count each of conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property, seven counts of wire fraud and 26 counts of mail fraud.

Mentally incompetent
Even then, the trouble wasn't finished for the Parkers.

A Western Union office called Donna to say her parents had been in a couple of times in one day to wire money to "relatives" in Jamaica. They were clearly a marked couple.

Donna suggested it was time they let her take over their affairs.

"I am NOT mentally incompetent," her father protested.

But in May 2008, she filed a petition, and the court appointed local attorney David T. Watters guardian ad litem. The Parkers were "charming and personable," but hopelessly blind to their predicament, he wrote to the court.

Miriam was his main concern.

"Incredibly, Respondent fails to recognize that the family is the victim of a cruel financial scam," he wrote. "In two conversations, she indicated that she felt that she was working with a better quality of person at this time, and that these people would live up to their promise to provide money to Respondent."

The court appointed Donna Parker guardian of their estate.

Blight on society
The criminal case ground slowly along, and last year Atkinson and Stewart pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy and mail fraud. (McKenzie is awaiting trial in Canada on an unrelated assault charge.)

When Atkinson appeared for sentencing at U.S. District Court in Raleigh on March 15, Miriam and Donna Parker were there. Charles Parker had died just a month earlier.

When the time came for victim impact statements, Donna Parker rose. She told Judge Terrence W. Boyle of having to take her parents to court, and of the lingering resentment it had caused.

"Scammers who prey on the elderly," she said, "are a blight on society."

Atkinson said he hoped to one day return to Canada to care for his aging father.

Seizing on this, the judge asked: "Can you imagine if somebody like you was doing this to your family? Could you imagine how shocked and outraged you'd be?"

"I can't sit in front of you and give an excuse for it," Atkinson said.

Boyle sentenced Atkinson to 12½ years in prison, Stewart to 6½. He also ordered them to pay $840,705 in restitution — $84,350 of it to Miriam Parker.

Responding to an interview request, Atkinson, 34, sent The Associated Press a three-page letter, cursing America's "corrupted justice system."

"my life is (expletive) ruined now," his unpunctuated reply said. "you think i care about the parkers"

Smart kids
Miriam Parker kept her home, but she's lost most of her independence. Each month, Donna sends her a debit card with $500 on it, to pay for food and personal expenses. The daughter still screens the mail and pays the other bills.

On a recent day, the two sat at that familiar oak table, a Lazy Susan piled with junk mail between them.

Shuffling envelopes, Miriam told a reporter, "As I look back on it, it was a good bit of stupidity on my part." She said she knows better than to respond to junk mail now.

"I'd better not," she said, casting a glance at her daughter. "Or they would've been on my back, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," Donna replied.

"Which is all right," the mother said. "I have very smart kids."

"We had to be," her daughter said.