3 Common Scams Preying on Seniors and How to Stay Safe
Nobody ever plans to fall victim to a scam, yet scammers succeed daily. They call and email nonstop, looking for someone who will respond and provide sensitive information or money. Over the years, scammers have perfected their craft, and technology has made it easier for them to part individuals with their hard-earned money. Too often, seniors are victims of these scams, but through awareness, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling for these shady tactics.
Here are a few scams that target seniors and how to protect yourself from making a dire mistake.
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The Grandparent Scam
Imagine this scenario: You’re sitting at home when you receive a call from an unfamiliar number. You answer the phone, and the person on the other line says, “Can you guess who it is?” They sound close enough to one of your grandchildren, so you say it’s them, and they confirm it. Before long, they tell you about their dire situation and how they need money. However, they tell you not to inform their parents under any circumstance.
While this could actually be your grandchild, it’s doubtful. You can protect yourself from this scam by hanging up the phone and calling your grandchild back with the contact info you have saved on your phone. There’s a strong chance they’ll answer and have no idea what you’re talking about.
Lotteries & Medicare Fraud
You just received an email stating you won a lottery worth millions. You jump for joy before reading that you must send some money to cover the taxes before they release your lottery winnings. Unfortunately, there is no lottery; you’ll just give your money away to a scammer. If you didn’t opt-in to a lottery or contest, just flag these emails as spam. If you did enter something and they’re asking you to send money or provide sensitive information, it’s likely a scam.
Many seniors are on Medicare, and scammers will use this to their advantage. Scammers may call seniors to “confirm” information about their account, but they’re actually just trying to gather personal information from you. With the information they collect, they could steal your identity. Just like with the grandparent scam, hang up the phone and call Medicare directly. Never share personal information over the phone if you didn’t initiate the call.
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