A significant portion of mature adults falls into the trap of scammers yearly. Due to their trusting and open nature, they are more susceptible to scams, identity theft, and fraud. Some seniors’ judgment may be affected by their cognitive issues, while others’ limited mobility puts them at risk with the entry of strangers into the house. While there are many types of scams, a few of them are used more prominently when targeting the mature population. Here are some recurring scams targeting your loved ones and how to avoid them.
Fraudulent Calls
There has been an increase in cases where scammers contact their victims through phone calls. These scammers threaten legal actions and even arrest should the victim refuse to contact the Social Security Administration. Another way for scammers to do this is by letting the victim believe that their social security number has been suspended and needs to be activated again. The one thing to note when such instances occur is that the Social Security Administration will never call someone for official matters unless they have an ongoing case with them. They will also not threaten arrest through a phone call.
Natural Disaster Scams
Natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes are devastating, to say the least. Scammers have leveraged this devastation to scam both the people who want to help and those in need. They will usually contact victims by phone or by email. Some may even go as far as meeting the victims in person. They may set up a fake website pretending to be a charity and claim to raise funds for those in need. They may also present to be Internal Revenue Service agents asking for personal information to help with claims filing. You should vet the credibility of a charity should you wish to support and use credible sources when seeking help.
Loved One in Trouble Scams
Scammers will contact a mature adult to notify them of an incident that has happened to their loved one and that they require money. This is one of the longest-running scams, and scammers have not resorted to asking for cash instead of wire transfers. Victims would be asked to put the cash into different envelopes and place them in a magazine to be shipped. Instead of acting immediately, hang up the call and contact your loved ones first to ensure that they are safe. If you have already mailed the cash, contact the post office to have the delivery stopped and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Avoiding a Scam
Another way your loved ones can avoid a scam is by protecting their personal information. They should only allow certain trusted people to handle their finances and be wary of door-to-door sales. Should they need in-home services, get recommendations from a friend or search for a reputable agency. It is also best to sign up for identity theft protection to monitor personal or financial information. They will also provide help should it be required.
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