Oftentimes we get a weird phone call or a letter in the mail disguised like a bill or even someone at our doorstep wanting us to buy something. We can sometimes be alarmed or confused as to what is really going on. Can you imagine how our aging parents must feel. Their memory is fading and they get a bill or a call saying they owe money and sometimes they fall for the scam. What can we do to keep them ahead of the scammers? 

5 Top Scam Aimed at Seniors

1. Lottery or Sweepstakes-All of us have probably experienced a call saying you have one that wonderful vacation or a letter in the mail saying you are a winner of major money. Typically, these are not real. They are scams to get you to subscribe to something that will tap into your bank account. The best thing to do is communicate with your aging parents about this and throw the mail away. They can screen calls and not answer these type of call. If a call is important, the person will leave a message or call back. Help educate yourself and your parents on lottery or sweepstake scams that seem unbelievable, because usually they are that…unbelievable.
2. Charitable Donations–With all due respect there are millions of charities. Where do you donate? How do you donate? These are good questions to ask. Picking a charity needs to be personal. You need to decide what are your values and what is important to you. Once you decide, you can map out how this works in your financial situation. It is important to keep to your values and what YOU want to donate to or you will be donating to everything and potentially be in a financial crisis. Having a plan, helps you avoid the calls or emails from scammers. You can just not answer the phone or hit delete on the email. Remember to stick to your guns on what you want to donate to and don’t fall prey to the scammers playing on your generosity. Check out all charities before you open your pocket to donate.
3. Medicare Fraud-This is a big one among seniors. If something seems overly complicated or confusing, it probably is not legitimate. No one will show up to your door from Medicare offering to sell you something; so, if someone does, they are a fraud.You need to treat your Medicare card like your Social Security card or Credit Card and protect them. Be careful who you share information with and always track what is going on with your Medicare services. Also nothing is free, someone is paying for it somewhere in the system. Beware and be smart. Aging parents might need their adult children to help them navigate the road with Medicare and avoid being scammed.
4. Lending or Investing Scams-Oftentimes you are offered a loan to help cover housing or medical expenses only to find out this was all false. If you are contacted out of the blue for an unbelievable loan, chances are it is a scam. Many times you can block callers that try to get your money or your parents money for investing or home improvements.
5. Identity Theft–Seniors become an excellent victim to identity theft. They get your information and start emptying bank accounts or charging like a great spending spree at your expense. How can you stay protected? Make sure you have everything secure and if you notice a withdrawal that is suspicious or your credit card or your Medicare card is getting charges that are not yours, take action immediately. You need to make sure your tax forms and medical records are protected as well. They contain important information about your identity and financial records. It is always good to have an adult child or trusted bank or legal advisor to check over accounts to make sure your identity is safe and protected.

These are just some of the scams that you need to be aware of to avoid being scammed or your aging parents getting scammed.Need more tips on senior care? Please call Ann at Senior Living Options to help you with various steps in the aging process with your parents.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.