By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Senior citizens are increasingly becoming the target of scams — many designed to obtain sensitive information such as bank account numbers and passwords. A new coalition in Marshall County hopes to stop this victimization.

TRIAD is a group formed of local law enforcement and support organizations for seniors that is designed to be sure that information on criminal activities is readily available to seniors to help them avoid being victimized.
“We really can’t be sure exactly how many crimes of this type are taking place because many of them go unreported,” said Ward Byers, of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and one of the organizers of the group. “There is a certain amount of embarrassment that goes with it and keeps people from reporting that they’ve been a victim of one of these scams. The purpose of the organization is to reduce the chances of somebody being taken by these scams through information and education.”
The group is part of a nationwide network of TRIADS that began in the late 1980s. There are TRIAD agreements with 47 states and there are 27 TRIAD organizations in Indiana.
“It’s a partnership with the various senior advocacy agencies and law enforcement,” said Anna Corbett, of Miller’s Merry Manor, also an organizer of the group. “We have a speaker’s bureau that will be able to make presentations for groups or anywhere where seniors gather.”
The group will use normal communication sources to get out information on any scams – media outlets, newsletters and organizations that have regular contact with seniors – but want to add another link as well.
“We want to get into the food centers,” said Byers. “We’ve even talked of trying to send out information with meals on wheels. We want to be sure that we do everything we can to keep our seniors safe.”
The group meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. in the Life Enrichment Center and welcomes volunteers who want to be involved.
“People should continue to contact their local law enforcement about any criminal activities,” said Corbett. “That information will get to us and we’ll get it out there.”