Fraud Against Seniors: How to avoid scams

Taking advantage of others is bad behavior, but it seems even more reprehensible when the victims are seniors. Unfortunately, older adults are popular targets.

According to the FBI, 92,371 American seniors were victimized by scams in 2021. However, many of these episodes go unreported, so we can only guess at the true total. But we do know that those 92,371 older adults suffered losses totaling $1.7 billion – that’s 74% more than was lost to fraud just a year before. These schemes gained popularity with thieves and con artists during the pandemic, but they are just as prevalent and dangerous today.

Clever fraudsters use scare tactics or play on your heartstrings to swindle seniors by phone, via the internet and through the mail.

The most commonly reported scams involve:

• Government impersonation – the scammer claims your Social Security or Medicare benefits will be cut off, or you owe back taxes to the IRS.
• TSweepstakes and lottery “winnings” – to get your prize, you have to send money for “handling” or some other reason or provide personal information for verification
• Robocalls and other phone-based approaches – your car or computer warranty is expiring, you’re being threatened with a lawsuit, the caller is collecting donations for some cause
• CTechnology-based approaches – pop-up ads claim your virus software has expired, emails and texts make all sorts of claims or offers
• Grandchild “urgent help” – someone impersonating your grandchild (or supposedly calling on their behalf) claims they are injured, in jail, or some other scary scenario and they need money right now

Then, there are the romance scams, fake charities and more. These fictions are all designed to steal your money outright or to steal your personal identity – social security or Medicare numbers, bank and credit card account information, etc. – to use later for nefarious purposes.

They work because scammers know exactly which buttons to push. They aim to tap into the generosity seniors are known for. Or certain vulnerabilities. Or the assumed wealth an older adult may have accumulated over their lifetime.

Don’t Sit Back, Fight Back!

Many seniors don’t tell anyone what happened because it’s embarrassing. How could you be taken in like that? The answer is that scammers are good and getting better every day at perfecting their approaches. It can be darn hard to tell if a call or email or even something in your mailbox is real. So here’s some advice to protect yourself:

Don’t become a victim of fraud. Follow these tips to avoid scams.

In many cases, fraud attempts targeting the elderly are conducted over the telephone. Here are some of the most common phone scams, along with tips to avoid or diffuse them:

• Do not answer the phone or respond to a text unless you know the caller. Note that fraudsters can spoof numbers so your screen may show a number that seems OK. Also note that government agencies do not call you. The IRS, Medicare, etc. contact people via mail.
• Never click or download anything unsolicited or make a purchase you didn’t initiate. Delete these overtures right away.
• Never send money via Western Union because anyone can retrieve it at the other end and you won’t get it back.
• Ignore mail offers requesting money. Sending a check or paying online puts your personal information at risk.
• Just delete a questionable text or email.
• Ask who’s calling. If the caller asks, “Hi, is this Helen?” do not say “yes.” Your recorded voice can be used to commit fraud later on. 
• Just hang up if the call seems fishy.

If you feel that someone is attempting to scam you, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833–372–8311 (833–FRAUD–11). The US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime created this hotline specifically to encourage reporting of fraud targeted at anyone age 60 or older. Reporting fraud can help put these abusive scammers out of business.

We strive to keep Mom or Dad as safe as possible

At Magnolia Manor, our residents are family. With that in mind, we are committed to supporting their physical, spiritual, social, and mental wellbeing. That includes helping seniors understand scam-related risks and how to avoid them. We invite you or your elder loved one to contact us online or by calling 855-540-LIFE (5433) to learn more about life in our communities.