How to Avoid Scam Targeting in Seniors

As more older adults use technology and social media, spam targeting is becoming a bigger risk. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that $40 million goes to telemarketing and other scammers a year. Many scammers pretend to be a family member or a representative from a company. Here are some ways to protect you and your senior from fraud.

Common Scams:

• Medicare/Health Insurance – When a person claims to be with health insurance such as Medicare and asks for personal information in return for a new prescription plan or free hygiene products.
• Government (Social Security or IRS) – Usually, this hoax is through a phone call with a scammer pretending to be a government agency. They claim that you owe taxes or will receive money such as a stimulus check, therefore requesting personal identification or bank account information.
• Lottery Winning – Either an email, letter, or phone call saying you won a sweepstake or lottery.
• Telemarketing/Robocalls – Usually is a call with a robotic voice. The most common is when a voice says, “Can you hear me?” and once you respond with “yes,” it is an automatic voice signature for them to have access to your information.
• Grandparent Deception – When a con artist calls or emails, claiming to be a relative such as a grandchild, who is in trouble and in need of money.

Tips to Avoid Targeting:

• Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company
• Check the credentials of the company and see if the number or email is correct
• Resist pressure to make decisions or act immediately
• Don’t give out personal information if you are at all uncertain
• Stop and talk to someone you trust if the conversation is suspicious
• It is nearly always a scam when asked to pay with a gift card or bank information

Prevention from Fraud:

Take advantage of blocking filters and features through your email and cell phone provider. This is a great way to prevent robocalls, unknown numbers, and other unwanted calls and emails from contacting your loved one. Monitor your senior’s social media, email, and physical mail. This is easy to do if your loved one gives you their login information, and from there, you can check the privacy settings, the friends, and the ability to block suspicious requests.

Educate your loved ones on knowing the difference between a scam and credible messages. Remind them not to give away any personal information, even if they claim to be a person or company you know. Teach your senior how to determine whether or not the message is fake and that not everything they read is real. To help your loved ones verify a call or email, have them call a family member or a company number they received from a reputable source to ensure there is not an actual problem.

Here at Evergreen Senior Living, we know that the social media/technology curve is steep. We are here to help keep your loved one safe both in person and online. Visit our website or call today to schedule a tour of our campus.