Holidays are a busy time for all of us, including the scammers and fraudsters working overtime to cheat you out of your money or worse your identity. Unfortunately, seniors are targeted more frequently than any other population and for several reasons. So keeping seniors safe from scams is vital to ensuring they are not taken advantage of or worse.
- Seniors are most likely to have savings, own their home, and have excellent credit—all of which make them attractive victims.
- People who grew up in the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Con artists understand this and use this to victimize seniors, knowing it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say “no” or hang up on someone.
- Seniors are less likely to report a fraud because of several reasons:
- They don’t know who to report it to.
- Are ashamed they’ve been scammed.
- Don’t realize they’ve been scammed.
- Afraid their relatives may think they can’t take care of their financial affairs.
- Seniors make poor witnesses. Con artists know the effects of age on memory, and they are counting on them not to be able to supply enough useful information to police.
Thankfully there are several things you can do to protect your loved ones and keep seniors safe from scams.
HOLIDAY TIPS TO KEEP SENIORS SAFE FROM SCAMS
Check On Loved Ones Regularly
Check regularly with your loved one. Stay in touch with them and maintain a good relationship so they feel safe talking to you about what’s going on in their life. Ask them about calls or visitors and check to see if they’re getting suspicious letters. Keeping the lines of communication open is the first step in identifying trouble.
Talk About Scams and Fraud
Because seniors tend to be more trusting, it’s essential to discuss with them the scams and frauds that they are likely to encounter. Explain how important it is never to give out personal information or bank information or to give money away even if the person sounds sincere. Help them to understand that a legitimate caller will always allow them time to think about it and will provide proof of who they are.
Ask For Proof
Encourage your loved one not to do business with anyone who can’t provide their business name, address, and telephone number in writing. Let them know that asking for proof of these details will likely scare off a scammer and prevent them from being victimized.
Should they get a call from a Government agency, ask that agency for an official letter. If they get an email from a bank, show them how to always login on the official web page, or call the bank directly for advice.
Play The Waiting Game
Let your loved one know that if they’re in doubt, they should hold off on responding until they talk to you or another trusted caregiver. Explain that anyone who pressures them to take action or give personal information immediately is likely a scammer. Remind them it’s best not to buy services from door-to-door handymen or respond to phone calls asking for money or personal details for charity donations, computer repairs, etc.
Remember by keeping the lines of communication open with your loved one; they’ll be more likely to speak with you about the situation. When your loved one lets you know they’re concerned about something, check it out thoroughly and then help them respond.
Practice Delay Tactics
Your loved one may feel pressured or scared when someone calls despite your best efforts. Practicing what to say will help your loved one feel confident in putting off the scammer. Phrases such as “I will speak with my family about your request” or “I’ll think about it” will give them the tools to take immediate action and protect themselves.
Let seniors know that it is always ok to end a conversation or hang up the phone.
Install a Monitoring System
A peephole, intercom, or wireless camera system can help your loved one stay safe. These devices help seniors check on who is calling, and they can even ask and see credentials. The more distance you can provide between the senior and the con artist, the more protected your loved one will feel.
Use The Do Not Call Registry
Put your loved one on the DO NOT CALL REGISTRY. This should decrease the number of telemarketing calls but may not eliminate them. You can register their phone number at donotcall.gov, or get assistance by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.
Specific Scams To Be Aware Of To Help Seniors Safe From Scams
- Phony Websites – During the holidays more than any time during the year, scam artists lure you into a trap leading to phony websites designed to steal your information. Not all advertisements and links in online searches are legitimate. Teach your loved one how to verify the site is secure and encrypted before buying anything online by using these tactics:
- Review the sender’s address, as businesses will often send emails with a proprietary address, like @afo.org;
- Look for misspellings throughout the email;
- Hover over links without clicking to see where they reroute;
- Only enter sensitive information into a website that begins with “https,” as the “s” informs you that it’s secure and that the information entered is encrypted.
- Free Trials – We’ve all seen those face creams and diet pills advertised for free – all you need to do is pay a small shipping fee. If your loved one provides their credit or debit card information, they’ve unknowingly been enrolled (and charged) in more product offers that are difficult to cancel. Discuss with them how to avoid offers that are too good to be true.
- Charity Scams – During the holiday season, scam artists will pull at your heartstrings, begging you to give to their cause. When someone calls from a “charity,” the best course of action is to have your loved one say, “I’m sorry, but this year I’ve already donated to all the charities that are important to me.” Then verify the charity at Give.org if you’re still interested in giving to them.
- Grandparent Scams – The “family emergency” scam happens when someone calls pretending to be or represent a family member, most frequently a grandchild. They will scare your loved one into believing a relative has been in an accident or arrested while out of town and they will request money be sent ASAP to help. If they receive a call like this, have them:
- Verify the situation by calling the family member in question directly;
- Check with other family members to see if the claims are true;
- Be suspicious if you’re asked to wire money or send gift cards instead of paying with a credit card.
- Free Gift Cards – Who doesn’t love free stuff around the holidays? Fraudsters hope to take advantage of that desire through phishing emails and pop-up ads offering free gift cards. If your loved one comes across one of these offers, you should not:
-
- Open the email as it can be a phishing attempt but, if you do, don’t click the links. Instead, mark the email as SPAM or JUNK;
- Share any personal information to receive the card as the scammers will use the information to steal your identity;
- Click the ad but close out of the app or program you are using, clear your history and turn on your ad blocker.
-
If you come across any of these scams this holiday season help protect seniors from scams by notifying the authorities of the following:
- Keeping a close eye on your financial statements and quickly disputing any unrecognized charges.
- Submitting a report to BBB Scam Tracker (whether or not you lost money)
- Filing a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Unfortunately, in this day and age, the number of scammers out there is growing fast, making it even more important than ever to know how to help our seniors stay safe. At the holiday season and any time during the year, being armed with the right knowledge and some honest conversations, you can help protect your loved one and show them how to be secure and safe.
If at any time you are concerned about your loved one being taken advantage of and are concerned about their safety living alone, contact us at 352-766-5274, and together, we can help you make a plan.
RELATED CONTENT
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR LOVED ONE FROM THE OUTSIDE
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU DURING THIS CRISIS
And just like you, I’ve been a caregiver.
I share my knowledge and tips to help seniors and families as they navigate the complicated process of senior living options.
- A CAREGIVER’S GUIDE TO HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS - August 6, 2024
- THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF SENIOR LIVING - July 23, 2024
- IMPORTANT JULY 4TH SATEFY TIPS FOR THE ELDERLY - June 26, 2024
