District Attorney's Office Reports a Rise in Senior Citizen Scams

10:34AM / Thursday, August 01, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire District Attorney's Office is alerting residents to an overall increase in scams targeting senior citizens.

On Oct. 3, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office, will hold two informational sessions on senior fraud. One event will take place in North Adams (location TBD) and the other will occur at the Lenox Community Center. More information on these events to come.

According to a press release, the most recent scam to occur is the Grandparent Scam. AARP defines a Grandparent scam, "The Grandparent Scam typically starts with a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild or a person reaching out on their behalf who needs your help urgently. They will say that your grandchild was in an accident or in jail and that they need money right away. They may ask you for a wire transfer or gift card, but there's a rise in requests for cash – cash that the caller will pick up from your home."

The scammers sometimes use artificial intelligence to impersonate people to create a sense of urgency or fear. They use this tactic to make people act quickly without being able to critically think about the situation.

Legitimate agencies will not ask for cash or gift cards; they will not send couriers to your house to pick up money; they will not ask for cryptocurrency; and they will not request wire transfers. Never give information or money to unknown individuals or organizations in-person, over the phone, or online. Law enforcement agencies will never ask you to send money, in any form, or come to your house to collect money. If you are targeted with this scam hang up the phone, call your family, and contact law enforcement.

These scammers are extremely hard for law enforcement to track down. They almost always operate outside the area in which they are running the scam, stated a press release.

Tips for not falling victim to the Grandparent scam:

If someone unknown to you calls stating that a family member has been arrested, verify with someone you trust. Call another relative or call the relative who claims to be in trouble. Verify even if the caller asks you not to.
If someone calls from an unknown number and claims to be a loved one, even if it sounds like them, ask the person questions that only your real family member would be able to answer.
Share carefully on social media. Make sure your privacy settings prevent strangers from accessing information about you or your family.
NEVER wire, hand over, or send money in response to a phone call, email, or online message. Once the money has been received by a fraudster, it's almost impossible to get it back. Hang up and call law enforcement immediately. (Remember, law enforcement would never request someone to send money via electronic transfer or send a courier to pick up cash for bail of a loved one.)

Visit www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call the AARP Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 for more information on senior fraud.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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