Why Does Your Mom Struggle to Recognize Scams?

Posted in Caregiver Tips, Senior Care, Senior Scams |

March 30, 2022

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Two years ago, older adults lost around $600 million to scammers. Pandemic-related scams fooled many people, leading to a swift increase in many scams. Shopping scams increased by 129%. You’ve told your mom all about recognizing scams, yet she still believes many of the emails or calls she gets. You can’t take her phone away, but you see that as the only way to keep her from answering calls. Why does she have such a hard time recognizing scams? Having a senior care services provider on hand to help out with this is a great idea.

 

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Senior Scams

Senior Care in Dothan AL: Senior Scams

 

Scams Can Be Incredibly Convincing

Some scams are extremely convincing. Scammers use the power of social media and the internet to find out as much as they can about your mom. The grandparent scam is a good example of this.

Scammers will look at social media accounts to find photos that show where a grandchild is going to college or on vacation. They know information that convinces your mom the caller knows or is the grandchild in question.

Mail scams are also common. One person received a letter from a major cellphone company thanking the customer for applying for a new phone account. The letterhead seemed authentic. The company address checked out.

Nothing in the letter seemed false, but the person hadn’t applied for a new phone. Questions arose as to why it claimed credit reports were pulled. The recipient had credit freezes in place. One number in the credit report section turned out to be a fake. Had the recipient called that number, they would have connected with the scammers.

Scammers Work to Improve Their Tactics

As scams fail, the reasons why they failed help con artists improve their tactics. When people smartened up to gift cards or money orders being a sure sign of a scam, con artists asked people to withdraw cash, put it in a box, and send it via a delivery service.

Some scams could use something as simple as answering the phone and saying “yes” to pull off scams. Recording the “yes” was all it took to sign people up for costly services or charges they never agreed to.

Does She Lack Companionship?

Sometimes, older adults don’t have many people to talk to. If the phone rings, they answer it. Once they’re on the line, the scammer can use persuasive techniques to convince your mom they genuinely want to help her.

Have you considered that your mom is lonely and likes having someone to talk to? If she keeps answering the phone due to loneliness, hire senior home care aides for companionship and assistance with her mail, phone calls, and emails.

When she has caregivers available to talk to each week, she may no longer feel the need to rush to answer the phone. Call a senior care agency to learn more.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Dothan, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Sources:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/ftc-top-scams.html

Senior Scams – Top Ten Financial Scams for Seniors

Posted in Senior Safety, Senior Scams |

March 22, 2021

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Senior Care in Hartford AL: Senior Scams

Senior Care in Hartford AL: Senior Scams

 

Senior Scams:

As a caregiver, you not only have to help your parent enjoy life to the fullest mentally, physically, and emotionally, but you also need to protect her from those who may desire to harm her – especially financially.
Financial senior scams against the elderly are now considered the crime of the 21st century as criminals try to find ways to access your parent’s finances, whether she has $1 to her name or $1 million.

 

Here are the top ten senior scams that you and your parent will want to be aware of so that she isn’t lured into giving away secure information or her money to a scam artist – whether it’s a complete stranger, or sadly, even someone in her family.

 

1. Grandparent Scams

In this scam, a person calls claiming to be a grandchild. They may not even know the grandchild’s name but will start the conversation with “guess who this is?” or “this is your favorite grandson calling.” They then tell a story of woe and how they need some cash fast to fix it and ask your parent to send them money through some online means before anyone has a chance to stop her.

2. Sweepstakes Scams

An unexpected check is sent to your parent as “winnings” and all they have to do is cover the processing fees in order to claim it. Remind your parent that if she hasn’t entered a contest, she’s not going to win anything.

3. Homeowner Scams

If your parent is asked to provide money for a report to be generated or is requested to make a payment on something she didn’t sign up with her home, have her check the sources before that check is cut because it easily could be another scammer.

4. Investment Scams

If your parent is asked to invest in someone’s business, check out the business closely before she puts any money into it, even if it’s a business by a family member. Pyramid senior scams are all over the place and unfortunately, distant relatives sometimes like to take advantage of your parent’s retirement funds.

5. Internet Scams

One of the most important internet lessons your parent can learn is to never click on an unknown link, no matter how official the sender seems to be. A virus could be let loose on her computer, grabbing passwords and bank account or credit card information.

6. Charity Scams

Especially common after natural disasters, scam artists will call and ask for funds to help the victims of whatever natural disaster just happened. If your parent’s heart is moved to give money to help those in need, have her connect with well-known and established charities.

7.Anti-aging  Senior Scams 

Fraudulent products that produce no results are the basis of this scam. Your parent could spend copious amounts of cash on a product that costs pennies to produce and has no results. Always check reviews of a product before buying too much of it.

8. Medicare/Insurance Senior Scams

The perpetrator will get personal information from your parent and then use that information to create fake medical bills to send to the insurance and pocket the payments.

9. Funeral  Senior Scams

Watch out for funeral homes that require prepayment and then bill for only the most expensive and lavish products.

10. Prescription Scams

Finally, while hunting for the best prescription price is good, in this senior scam, people will provide prescriptions that are not approved or accurate – and a very dangerous game for your parent. Keeping her on approved prescription sites is best for her safety, even when the prices seem ludicrous.

 

Usually, the best bet for scams is to ask someone else what they think or Google the resource requesting the information or money. Almost all things can wait until they are verified so encourage your parent to never simply trust someone or something she receives. She should check with you or any other caregiver in her life first.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Hartford, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.