VISITING ANGELS CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 815-479-0312
Facebook YouTube X Instagram LinkedIn
Winter Scams for Seniors to Watch For

Winter Scams for Seniors to Watch For

Winter weather brings colder temperatures and lots of reasons to cozy up and stay indoors. Unfortunately, it also brings out the worst in people who are looking to talk elderly people out of their savings. Online scams, contractors offering to winterize homes, scammers who pretend to be family members, and unscrupulous actors preying on your loved ones’ best intentions are all reasons to keep aware of the contacts calling their home. If you find that your elderly loved one is not able to make good financial decisions on their own, it may be time to call Visiting Angels of Crystal Lake at (815) 479-0312 to have a caregiver at the home while you are away to protect them by paying close attention to who they are talking to and what information they are sharing. 

FBI Warning of Tech Support Scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning in November to residents of the Chicago area about an increase in scams where criminals are posing as technical support to target elderly people. The FBI said the number of older Americans who have been victims of tech support fraud jumped to 13,900 in 2021, an increase from 9,429 victims in 2020. Technical support fraud involves someone offering to resolve issues such as compromised email or bank accounts, computer viruses, or software renewals. 

In this instance, computer intrusion causes a frozen home screen followed by a pop-up box advising that their computer has been hacked. The pop-up contains a phone number claiming to be from a well-known software company but belongs to the scammers. The “employee” claims that the victim’s bank accounts and social security account number have been compromised and connects the victims with other scammers impersonating bank representatives and Social Security Administration employees. They then direct their target to download an application that allows remote computer access. Victims are convinced to withdraw money from their bank to avoid “hackers.” They are told their money will be transferred to the Social Security Administration where it will be converted to Bitcoin “for safekeeping” and returned once they are assigned a new social security account number. 

To avoid losing money to this scam, the FBI recommends seniors avoid installation of programs that give others remote access to their computer and should disconnect their device from the internet if they see a scam pop-up screen. Seniors should always be skeptical if a “government agency” asks to conduct business in Bitcoin or if someone tells them not to talk to their family about a money transfers.

Winterizing the Home

Many elderly people live in older homes that may not be fully ready for colder weather. Scam artists will often go through neighborhoods going door-to-door to find seniors who need work to winterize the home, adding weather stripping, insulation, roof repairs, etc. However, there are ways to prevent losing money to this kind of scam. Contractors and home improvement companies are often required to have licensing and insurance through state boards. Many states have online databases you can check. Never give insurance policy numbers, coverage details, or other personal information out to companies with whom you have not entered a contract. 

Pretending to be A Family Member

This scam is meant to pull on a senior’s heartstrings, with the scammer spinning an elaborate story designed to convince a senior to act quickly, believing that they’re doing a good deed for a loved one in need. They may claim to be a grandchild stuck in another city needing a plane ticket to “come home.” 

What can you do to stop it? If a senior gets a call out of the blue claiming to be from a family member, let them know that they should take down the contact information and let them know they will call them back. Let your elderly loved one know you will help them contact that family member directly, preferably over the phone, to verify the story. Seniors also should be on the lookout for any message that asks for them to wire money, purchase and ship gift cards, or send cash directly. As the Federal Trade Commission has explained, these are the methods by which scammers are most likely to make you pay, since they are hard to trace and often impossible to stop or reverse.

Charity

Charity scams come in many forms. According to the National Council on Aging, scammers may “impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-meaning consumers,” including setting up fake websites that mimic legitimate charities. Encourage seniors to be wary of any organization requesting money or information, especially if that alleged charity calls or emails out of the blue. For calls or requests that claim to be coming from an established organization, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau encourages consumers to “look up the number of the organization independently and verify the claim before sending money.”

Don’t be afraid to ask for detailed information about the charity, including name, address, and telephone number, and then reach out to the charity directly. The real organization should be able to say if they have authorized someone to make solicitations on their behalf.

Similarly, the NCOA encourages would-be givers to use the Internal Revenue Service’s tax exempt organization search tool, or look for an organization’s charity using legitimate resources such as Guidestar and Charity Navigator.

Online Shopping

Online shopping and ecommerce scams might take many different forms. In some cases, shoppers may be directed to an entirely phony website, offering “too good to be true” deals as a way of securing the consumer’s personal information. In other events, shoppers may receive emails promising discounts or coupon codes, complete with links or attachments that download identity-stealing viruses. Some websites may offer a “free trial” for a product or service, which requires a user to input their credit or debit card number. In yet another variation of the scheme, savvy scammers may track your online purchases, and then send a follow up email requesting information due to an alleged “problem with your purchase” or delivery issue. 

To avoid falling victim to a cybershopping scam, it helps to offer your senior loved one — and yourself — a refresher course on online safety. Be wary of any sites offering extremely deep discounts, and research company names and links with consumer protection experts, such as the BBB. Don’t click on any emails or links that come from a source that you do not know and trust. Never give out sensitive personal information online and be suspicious of anyone who tries to get in contact out of the blue. You may also want to help your senior loved one get on the national “Do Not Call” registry, and turn up the spam filters and security features on their email account and web browser, respectively. 

Helping your senior loved one watch out for the very real risk of scams and fraud is just one way to make the holiday season easier. A professional caregiver or companion can be an invaluable help around the holidays, stepping in and providing valuable support. Visiting Angels of Crystal Lake can help. Visit our website at or call us now at (815) 479-0312 to find out more about our services or to schedule a free consultation.

Serving Crystal Lake, McHenry, Woodstock, Cary, Barrington, Algonquin, Palatine, Lake Zurich and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels CRYSTAL LAKE, IL
228 Florence St
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-479-0312

Serving Crystal Lake, McHenry, Woodstock, Cary, Barrington, Algonquin, Palatine, Lake Zurich and Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels CRYSTAL LAKE, IL
228 Florence St
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone: 815-479-0312