Hi, I first posted the following in July of this year:
My 91 year old father-in-law, Ralph, a WWII veteran who suffers from dementia has fallen prey to a scam.
He was approached by an “estate advisor”, Mr. Craig Smedley, claiming to be an expert about VA benefits. He persuaded my father-in-law to sign a "service agreement" whereby Ralph agreed to give Mr. Smedley 5 months of his VA Basic Pension with Aid and Attendance if, with Mr. Smedley’s assistance, Ralph qualified for the benefit.
Ralph received his award letter in March, $1885 per month, so Smedley wants $9425. My wife (an only child) and I are awaiting the interview to be named as fiduciaries. By way of an update, I am still awaiting the fiduciary interview, and continue to stonewall Mr. Smedley.
He has stopped calling me, but continues to hound my in-laws to influence me to pay him. I have
contacted the VA General Council and the California Attorney General with no results from either.
They apparently don't care that there are scam artists preying on the elderly and uninformed.
Mr. Smedley, in his own words regards himself as "a miracle worker". I am including his email address
in this letter if any of you would care to comment to him directly...
cbsmed@verizon.net.
Michael Hogue
