11.Senior_Affairs_Committee_Meeting_Minutes_11_28_2022APPROVED1
Minutes – Senior Affairs Committee
Senior Affairs Committee Meeting
Chair: Debi Quade, At-Large
Vice-Chair: Oscar Llorente, Director Network Development Mount Sinai
City Liaison: Luis Callejas, Aide to Commissioner David Richardson
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TO: Members of the Miami Beach Senior Affairs Committee
DATE: November 28, 2022
SUBJECT: MINUTES OF THE SENIOR AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 24, 2022
– VIRTUAL MEETING
Attendees:
Natacha Fernandez, Magui Benitez, Enilda Thomas, Gaby Baglietto, Debbie Quade, Carolina
Cuadros, Gabriel Paez.
Absentees:
Ana Rabelo, Larisa Cajiao, Oscar Llorente
Special Guests:
Paul Guasto, Criminal Investigations Division, Miami Beach Police
I. Introductions and Roll Call
Chair welcomed and shared the Committee’s mission statement.
Attendance was taken.
II. Approval of October 2022 minutes
Motion to adopt the minutes from the previous meeting held on September 26, 2022.
Motion made by Magui Benitez
Motion seconded by Carolina Cuadros
Motion passes unanimously, 7-0
III. Presentation from Miami Beach Police Department, Sergeant Paul Guasto, Criminal
Investigations Division
Introduced himself and introduced the topic of the presentation: Most common fraud scams.
Key takeaways included:
- The most important takeaway is to promote awareness
- Most common are: Advance Fee, Charity, Dating and Romance, Debt Relief,
Grandparent/Relative, IRS, Jobs, Jury Duty, Phantom Debt, Fishing, Social Security, Tech
Support, Government Grants, and Open Enrollment Scams.
- Provided date for the top 2021 scams
- Advance fee scam involve sending money in advance in exchange for something, create an
urgency
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Minutes – Senior Affairs Committee
- Charity scams often involve refusal to provide information about the charity and the name
sounds similar to a legitimate charity
- Scams often involve an urgency and cash
- Dating scams are growing in popularity, often claim to be in the U.S. but the person is always
traveling
- Grandparent/relative scam has been reported in Miami Beach. Scammer asks person to send
money right away and may claim loss of passport/can’t fly home. The scammer has obtained
basic information and create a story.
- IRS scams often use applications to come up with a fictious number
- Jobs scams target people looking for honest work and make upbeat promises for employment
- Smishing and fishing are very popular and involve random text messages or emails
- It is recommended that information should not be given over the phone unless it is validated
- Government grant scam often involves advertisements inviting you to call a number to become
eligible for a program or receive a grant
- Open enrollment scams involve receiving a call asking for Medicare ID number and personal
information, do not engage during a cold call, be wary of gifts for sign ups or changing a plan,
ignore threats to take away benefits or service
- For scammers, the easier they can get personal information the better, it is up to us to make it
hard for scammers
- Scam on the rise: Rental property scam: Impersonate a real estate agent (Facebook
Marketplace) and invite the person to make a deposit upfront before meeting.
- Scam on the rise: Crypto ATM payments: Very hard to trace or track a payment made, no one
should require you to make a payment using a cryptocurrency
-Ways to protect yourself: Fraud alert from a credit agency, check credit report, remove number
from call lists, consider getting a password manager, consider getting an owner alert notification
service (through the Property Appraisers office to alert of any changes to the deed), always
verify sources of request for information
- Debi Quade asked how a victim of fraud would call to report.
- Sergeant Guasto stated that most people walk-in/speak to an officer face-to-face to report
fraud. In 24 hours, it will appear in the division queue for review.
- Debi Quade asked about a common call from state trooper fundraising, she asked how to verify
that type of call.
- Sergeant Guasto explained that is tough to verify. Always ask to verify identity.
-Debi Quade stated that it is amazing how they can imitate familiar numbers. Her grandmother
fell victim to that scam.
- Open to questions from members. No questions other were asked. (45:00)
IV. Senior Center Representative Report and Discussion
A. Blackstone Apartments – Vacant
B. Council Towers South – Natacha Fernandez: All is well. Maintenance work continues and
progress continues. Mentioned that there was a fire in the outdoor patio, but all is well. Residents
are happy with cultural activities.
C. Council Towers North – Vacant
D. Federation Towers – Magui Benitez: Wished all happy holidays. Noted that everything is ok.
Classes at the building continue the same and thank Gloria Campos from the Mayor’s office. JCS
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Minutes – Senior Affairs Committee
is also offering classes and are being offered to other buildings. Mentioned that she parked at a
private parking lot and hopes to see better signs.
E. Four Freedoms House – Enilda Thomas: No update.
F. Rebecca Towers – Ana Rabelo: Absent.
G. Stella Maris House – Gaby Baglietto: Shared video of cones blocking bus stop on Collins
Avenue and 87th Street. Stated that it is difficult for the bus to stop. Requested that the cones be
moved.
H. UNIDAD of Miami Beach – Larissa Cajiao: Absent.
I. At-Large – Debbi Quade, Chair: No update.
J. At-Large – Carolina Cuadros: Stated that she is working on a big event for the month of
December.
K. Hispanic Affairs Committee Chair – Gabriel Paez: Noted next meeting of the Hispanic Affairs
Committee is December 12. Informed that this was his last meeting as he has been termed out.
Invited committee members to share with Hispanic Affairs committee members to help advance
senior issues like the pedestrian crosswalk at 87th Street.
Chair thanked Gabriel for his service.
Gabriel stated that on December 14 Commissioner Fernandez will honor him.
L. Jewish Community Services of South Florida – Vacant
M. Mount Sinai Medical Center – Oscar Llorente, Vice-Chair: Absent
V. Discuss July Calendar of Events
Calendar pending and will be sent to committee via email. Received later in the meeting.
VI. New Business
A. Proposed 2022 Meeting Dates
i. Monday, December 26 (Canceled)
ii. January 23, 2023
B. January Meeting Topics
Selection of Chair and Vice-Chair and briefing on Sunshine Law.
C. Staff Liaison’s Report
Provided an update on bus stop at 87th and Collins Avenue.
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Minutes – Senior Affairs Committee
Provided an update on South Pointe Park Fountains not working, issue brought forward by
Natacha Fernandez.
December Senior Calendars: December 15 is the Senior Holiday Party. Contact Parks and
Recreation Department. December 16 North Shore Park Winter Wonderland.
Debi Quade highlighted three vacancies on the committee.
December 15 is the next food distribution. Will be the third Thursday of the month.
Provided update on important topics discussed at the City Commission meeting held in
September. Next Commission meeting will be on December 14.
VII. Closing
Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2023.
Motion to adjourn was made.
Motion made by Magui Benitez
Motion seconded by Carolina Cuadros
Motion passes unanimously, 7-0
Meeting Adjourned at 10:36am