| Seniors can make easy targets for fraud. Fraud | | | | located. Or they may be able to find and access |
| on seniors can happen by phone, mail, in person, | | | | personal information; maybe from a bank |
| or, less commonly, the Internet (because seniors | | | | statement or other mail lying about. Or they may |
| are online in smaller numbers). It can happen to | | | | simply ask to use the bathroom or ask for a cold |
| seniors regardless of assets or income. According | | | | drink of water while an accomplice sneaks in |
| to the FTC, con artists are more likely to target | | | | another door and steals something while the |
| senior citizens because seniors are more | | | | senior's attention is diverted. |
| susceptible to such scams. | | | | Phone Fraud |
| Seniors tend to be retired so they're home and | | | | Seniors are particularly vulnerable to phone fraud |
| available. They tend to answer their phones and | | | | schemes because they are typically at home and |
| read their mail. The offers that come to seniors | | | | rarely use caller id or message screening |
| aren't necessarily more attractive to seniors, but | | | | techniques. The techniques used can usually be |
| they have the time to read it. | | | | categorized as follows: |
| Seniors tend to be vulnerable because they grew | | | | - · Figure of Authority/Authenticity: The |
| up in a more polite time when they thought it | | | | con artist will put the senior on hold to pass the |
| was rude to hang up on someone and there is | | | | call off to the 'official verifier' or their 'manager' to |
| the issue of being alone or lonely, so they're more | | | | confirm identity offering legitimacy of the offer |
| likely to talk to strangers. | | | | - · Fear of Loss: The prize is just too |
| Scams involving medical care services, | | | | great to even consider passing up and the |
| sweepstakes and prizes are popular scams on | | | | targeted victim becomes obsessed on getting it. |
| seniors. Estimates state that each victim of a | | | | - · Sympathy & Reciprocity: The |
| sweepstakes scheme lost an average of $7,000! | | | | telemarketer uses empathy to engage the senior |
| Home Repair Fraud | | | | and then explains how much this means to them |
| Another prevalent scam against seniors is for | | | | and that they will not get commission unless the |
| home repairs. One way this happens is for | | | | senior pays the 'handling' fee for the prize |
| someone to show up at their door without a call | | | | - · Limited availability: The senior is |
| or appointment. Usually this occurs when they | | | | informed that they have won a prize but if they |
| have been doing home repairs such as re-roofing | | | | do not respond immediately and pay a "handling" |
| at a neighbor's house. The scammer will say that | | | | or other so-called charge, the 2nd place |
| he noticed the senior's home has some shingles | | | | contestant will be awarded with the winnings |
| loose or other problem. He may even climb up a | | | | - · Hype: The scammer will use high vocal |
| ladder and pull off some perfectly good shingles | | | | tones, loud sounds, screams and yells in explaining |
| as "proof" that repairs are needed right away. | | | | how exciting it is to be a winner Another key to |
| They will use pressure and persuasion to scare | | | | identifying a scam is when the senior states that |
| the homeowner with stories of additional damage | | | | it cost to much and that they live on a fixed |
| and the risk that insurance will not cover a | | | | income, the telemarketer will ask how much they |
| problem that was not repaired by the | | | | can afford. If they are willing to accept the |
| homeowner prior to the damage from rain or | | | | smaller amount, it's a scam! |
| wind occurring. | | | | And don't assume that they will stop at just one |
| Feeling afraid and intimidated, the senior | | | | tactic. It is not unusual for them to use one or |
| homeowner will hire the 'repairman' to fix the | | | | more of these tactics in order to complete a |
| problem. The scammer will often ask for | | | | scam. They know that the longer that they keep |
| payment in advance and will make excuses that | | | | their target on the phone, the more likely that the |
| they have to buy materials and need to money | | | | victim will eventually lose their suspicions and cave |
| to do so...or they will say that without payment in | | | | to the demands. |
| advance, they will not be able to fix the problem | | | | The best way to protect your family is to talk |
| anytime soon pushing the senior to do so with | | | | about this. Of course, the best way to prevent |
| similar scare tactics. | | | | fraud is to simply hang up on anyone that they |
| After payment, the fake repairman will pretend | | | | do not know. If that person calls back, have the |
| to go to work even climbing ladders, making noise | | | | senior tell them to call you because you handle all |
| with hammers and such. They will then make the | | | | financial situations and they have no way to pay |
| excuse that they need to buy more material, or | | | | them. |
| go to lunch, or whatever never to return! | | | | Instruct the seniors to never, ever give personal |
| Also be on the watch for con artists posing as a | | | | information no matter who they say they are. A |
| utility worker saying they need to check the | | | | bank or government agency will contact the |
| phone line, gas line, electrical line, etc. and ask for | | | | senior by mail and will never ask for account |
| access to the home. Once inside, several things | | | | numbers or passwords over the phone unless it is |
| could happen. They may only be casing the place | | | | the senior initiated the call. This is the best and |
| for security systems, others living in the home or | | | | only way to know for sure that you have |
| just looking to see if there are valuables easily | | | | reached the right agency. |