Niagara County Office for the Aging warns of scam targeting home-delivered meals

Submitted by the Public Information Office

The Niagara Office for the Aging (OFA) today is warning seniors about a scam involving the county’s home-delivered meal program. Someone purporting to be from the Niagara County Department of Health is calling and saying a person’s home-delivered meals will be canceled if they do not immediately pay for their meals. The caller then attempts to get the senior’s personal information.

“There is nothing more despicable then making a senior worry about not receiving their meals as a way to scam them,” said Darlene DiCarlo, director of OFA. “We have tried to contact all of our meal recipients and warn them of this scam, but we want to alert the public as well, especially the family and friends of those receiving meals through our program or any other agency.”

DiCarlo stressed that seniors are not obligated to pay for meals through the county home-delivery program. and any payments are considered voluntary donations.

“These scam calls can sound so believable, so I want to again warn seniors that no Niagara County department is calling you unsolicited and demanding payment information,” DiCarlo said. “And if you ever have any questions about a call or email you receive about a county program, just contact NY Connects at 716-438-3030 and we can check it out for you.”