Unfortunately, there are many people out there who prey on seniors. Telemarketers may target seniors for scams for several reasons. Firstly, seniors are often perceived as more trusting and less tech-savvy, making them potentially more vulnerable to deceptive tactics. Scammers may believe that older individuals have accumulated savings or assets, making them attractive targets for financial fraud. If your senior seems lonely, it could also put them at risk for a scammer to take advantage of them. You must know what to look for to help teach and protect your loved one. Here are a few things to consider and how in-home care can play a role in keeping your senior from being scammed.
Starting With Medical
Medical identity theft happens more than you would like to think. These scammers will claim to be with a hospital or an insurance company like Medicare and ask for information about your loved one. It is important to know that your hospital will never call you with these questions, and everyone from Medicare should be able to prove they are from Medicare. However, these calls can be stressful for a senior loved one, making them anxious. They need to know never to give out their information.
Grandpa and Grandmas
Your loved one may have grandkids; unfortunately, this scam will take advantage. They will often get a call, which will sound like a child talking to their grandparent and asking for personal information and details that should never be given over the phone. Your loved one needs to hang up and call their adult children if they want to talk to their real grandkids.
Charity Schemes
Many people love to donate money, and this is not abnormal. However, your loved one needs to be very careful what charity they choose to donate to, and no charity should ever ask for personal information like social security or bank account numbers. This is all a red flag. Help your loved one find a reputable charity in their local neighborhood. Your loved one can pay in cash or online if they feel safe enough doing so. Many charities will send a thank you card but never contact your senior.
The Pigeon Drop
Some scammers will ask for a large amount of money. They may say your senior loved one has an inheritance waiting for them, and they need to make a small payment to wire the funds. This is not real, and your senior should be wary of any promises. If they have money from a family member or friend, a lawyer will tell them, not someone collecting bank account information over the phone.
If you are not always with your senior loved one, managing their phone calls can be hard, especially if they choose to age in place. However, in-home care can help monitor calls and they can ensure a senior is not giving out information over the phone. In-home care providers have many benefits, one of them being ensuring your loved one is aging safely at home. They can keep you up to date with whatever is going on in your loved one’s life.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME CARE IN SAN JOSE, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY. (408) 317-4969.
