Avoid Scams That Target Elderly
Older adults lose billions of dollars each year to scams and fraud. If you’re a senior citizen, then you’re much more likely to become a victim of fraud. Scammers target mature adults because they often have accumulated substantial wealth over their lifetimes, and some seniors don’t report being scammed because they’re too embarrassed to admit that they’ve been taken for a ride. The last thing you need is to have your financial situation compromised in your golden years by opportunistic fraudsters. Don’t become a statistic – make sure you and your loved ones keep an eye out for these types of scams.
The “You’re a Winner!” Scam
We’d all love to have a spare million dollars in our bank accounts. But what if you had to pay a couple of nominal fees to process your prize? On the surface, paying $500 to unlock a substantial windfall might seem like a prudent investment, but the problem is – the sweepstakes is fictitious. Instead, the scammers simply take the “processing fee” and disappear.
Medicare Fraud of the Elderly
If you received a call from a representative from your health insurance provider, you’d probably take that call seriously. After all, without Medicare or health insurance, you’d have to pay out of pocket for your medications, and that would get expensive rather quickly. If someone claiming to represent your health insurance provider calls and asks for your personal information, tell them you’ll call back later, but don’t call the number they provide. Look it up for yourself, then call and report a possible scam.
Snake Oil Scams That Target Senior Citizens
For many, the idea of some elusive fountain of youth is very appealing. Who wouldn’t want to be 25 again, or at least feel more vigorous and youthful? And if you were suffering from chronic pain, then you might be willing to try anything to keep it at bay. But if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Be wary of advertisements for cure-all panaceas the doctors supposedly don’t want you to know about. There’s probably a good reason your physician hasn’t recommended them before.
Online Cons
For tech-savvy seniors, the Internet offers plenty of great opportunities to connect with the outside world. You can keep up with friends and family, order yourself a smart new outfit from the comfort of home, and enjoy funny videos of other people’s pets without having to worry about taking care of an animal. But being online may also bring you into contact with some dubious characters, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Online scams are varied and sundry, but a few common ones involve pop-up windows that try to scare you into paying to remove a nonexistent computer virus, emails asking you to verify your personal information, and sweet-heart scams wherein a fraudster will attempt to build a relationship with you so they can cajole you into sending money for some made-up emergency. Stay alert, and don’t fall for these schemes.
Shady Financial Advisors Seeking Elderly Clients
If you’ve been fortunate enough to accumulate a substantial nest egg to enjoy in your retirement years, guard it carefully. Many investments provide an excellent ROI, but you have to be picky when choosing a financial advisor. Go with someone who comes highly recommended by your peers or by someone you trust, and make sure you or your family members read online to see what other customers have to say about their experiences. Also, pay close attention to your monthly statements. Even at reputable firms, one bad actor can deplete your life savings.
The Relative in Need Scam
If you have grandkids, then you know that sometimes it can be difficult to guess whom you’re speaking with on the phone. In this scam, an individual posing as a grandchild or other relative might call and say, “ Hey Grandpa. Can you guess who this is?” Your guess will be quickly confirmed, with the eventual goal of hitting you up for money. You should also know that some of these scammers are quite sophisticated, and may mine your social media accounts for personal information they can use to lend credibility to their assumed identities. Always set your social media profiles to private, and don’t accept requests from people you don’t actually know.
The Tech Support Con
For those of us who are getting on in years, using technology can be a bit intimidating. Unless you’re a retired computer programmer, the inner workings of your home computer might seem pretty mysterious. You might receive a call from someone posing as a tech support rep from a legitimate company such as Microsoft or Apple. This person may try to convince you that even if your computer seems fine, it’s actually infected with a dire piece of malicious software. To fix it, they’ll need to install some software that allows them to operate your computer remotely. If you get an unexpected call like this, don’t follow the caller’s directions! Once they’ve taken control of your computer, they’ll attempt to hold your data hostage until you’ve paid a substantial fee.
Elderly, Beware: You’re Nobody’s Fool
As P.T. Barnum used to say, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Show those scammers that you’re not one of them. Stay vigilant for possible scams, and report any fraud attempts you encounter. Who knows? Your sharp wits may end up saving some vulnerable person down the line from being taken by a swindler.
Finding a Place for Mom or Dad with Golden Placements:
Keep your senior loved one surrounded by friends who understand aging. Golden Placements helps you manage resources and takes care of the leg work for finding your best living situation so you can enjoy your best Golden Years. GPS has ideas gathered over years of experience by being Senior Life Specialists. Portland Senior Living and their various options from our Golden Girls specialists are IS NO COST.- Get tips to protect yourself and your money. Learn how to spot common scams, keep your money secure, and report financial fraud if you suspect you’re a victim with our friends at www.ncoa.org
- You can call us today or continue to read more about Long Term Care Planning with our friends at ACL
- Oregon Defines and Describes ADLs for us legally here: Long Term Care
- Golden Placements RESOURCES to find CARE Services
- Quality locations for you Senior Loved One with the Golden Girls
- Senior Living Near Me – Adult Home Placement
- Explore Residential Care Homes for Elderly “near me”
Diane Delaney, Placement Specialist Extraordinaire
Delaney is the founder of Golden Placement Services. She began this business with a healthy dose of compassion for helping families make educated decisions regarding senior placement. Focused to relieve stress in uncertain senior housing crucial moments. Diane brings about loving change of lifestyle with grace. Additionally, Diane is an accomplished executive manager, Director of Operations in senior housing. Emphatically, she enjoys sharing her experience by writing about the full spectrum of the transition process for seniors and family members.
LaVona Tomberlin, Senior Placement Specialist
Tomberlin brings a high level of education and experience to you as your Senior Placement Specialist at GPS. She loves writing about improving the lives of Elderly working in private care and in-home care for over 36 years. Geriatrics, Memory Care. Plus, she holds Master of Psychology Behavioral Health with the goal of advocating for those who needed a voice. Basically, LaVona believes helping the families to make good decisions and to relieve their stress in uncertain times makes life worthwhile!
Learn More: Read articles from Placement Specialist LaVona: End of Life Transition a heart felt Guide >>
Gwenn McNeal2023-03-09Golden Placement Services answered! It’s really difficult to have to place an aging parent into a facility, but our family knew it was time. So I did some research, called 15 facilities, and managed to get on one wait list. I also called two companies that assist with finding homes, and they said they could not help. We were concerned we wouldn’t find a place, and if we did, it could be a very poor choice for our dad. Then I was given Golden Placement Services phone number and I spoke with a lovely woman named LaVona. That’s when everything changed! LaVona listened to our family’s needs, was understanding, and within days, she had arranged places for us to visit. How she found them, I don’t know, but she did! She met us there, listened some more, answered questions, and offered sage advice. We will forever be grateful for Golden Placement Services help in making this very tough decision. We absolutely know that my dad is in the right place to spend the rest of his life. And, we wouldn’t have that assurance today, had we not been connected with their wonderful service! They have blessed us greatly and we are sharing their information with others we know who are going through the same process.
Maureen S.2022-10-18Our family is so grateful for Diane and her company. They have helped us, two times find placements for our family members. We are now working now to find a great situation for another elderly family member.. Best thing, THEY CARE about each client and their wellbeing... THANK YOU, Diane
Addison Inman2019-05-31What a great resource for seniors in this area. Great, honest work. Very knowledgeable.
Denise R2013-03-23They were very helpful and while being professional, kind and caring. They were thorough in trying to find the best arrangement for our situation and followed-up to make sure client's new arrangements were satisfactory. I highly recommend them.
