June brings two important issues to the forefront in an effort to create awareness and educate – safety and elder abuse. June is nationally recognized as Safety Month, valuable reminder that safe practices are as important as ever, and that we must always be ready for new hazards that emerge. In addition, June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), a global initiative first launched in 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization. WEAAD strives to raise awareness of the abuse older people suffer and works to ensure that seniors are safe and lead a high-quality life with dignity.
While there many forms of elder abuse including physical, sexual, emotional, abandonment and neglect, perhaps one of the most prevalent that occurs is financial abuse. While it can, and does, happen at the hand of family and friends of seniors, one of the largest offenders may not personally know the senior they’re harming. Scammers steal approximately $3 billion per year from seniors!
In the spirit of this month’s themes, take a moment to learn about common scams that target seniors and how you can keep safe.
Medicare & Tax Scams
Scammers posing as Medicare or IRS representatives often trick elderly people into giving personal information and credit card number over the phone. If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare Number, social security number or other personal information, hang up immediately! You can report the call to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and to the IRS by using the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form or by calling 800-366-4484.
Fake Virus Scanners
If you receive a “pop-up” window telling you that your computer has a virus, don’t take the bait. These windows are fake alerts aimed at providing scammers access to private information stored on your computer.
Investment & Charity Schemes
Don’t let a scammer get a hold of your hard-earned money with empty promises or by playing on your heart strings. If someone approaches you about an investment with a promise of a big return or an over-seas investment partner, chances are this is a scam. Likewise, if you receive an unsolicited call from a charitable organization you may want to reconsider donating over the phone. If it’s a cause you’d like to support, do your own research to find more about them before providing your credit card number.
Often the best way to avoid being scammed is to pause before you act and look for clues that this may be a trick. If you are feeling the offer is simply too good to be true? It probably is. If you “just need to pay for shipping and handling” to get that “free” trip, prize, etc., don’t do it. If the email address doesn’t include the company’s URL, or there are spelling errors or broken English, it’s likely fake.
In general, be wary of unsolicited calls and computer pop-ups. Sadly, some scammers are just really good. So don’t beat yourself up if you fall for one of their tricks. Trust your gut, if it feels “off” hang up or delete the email. And, if you ever suspect identity theft, or feel like you gave your personal information to someone you shouldn't have, contact the Federal Trade Commission.
