VISITING ANGELS PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA 703-530-8811
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Scams That Target Seniors – What to Watch Out For

The senior population has been and continues to be a significant target for scammers. Thieves target seniors because, in many cases, they have the most considerable accumulation of wealth. Seniors are sometimes lonely and may easily trust a new acquaintance or salesperson. Additionally, if a senior is beginning to suffer from some symptoms of cognitive impairment, they can be an easy target.

The scammer’s only agenda is to steal money from seniors. They go about this in a few fundamental ways.

  • They attempt to steal a person’s identity and use that information for fraudulent financial gain.
  • They try to enlist the cooperation of the senior to hand over money voluntarily.
  • Seniors may unknowingly purchase fraudulent products and services.

Telephonic Scams

Scammers will call and speak with seniors to try to acquire personal information. They call and state the following:Senior woman holding credit card

  • A recently deceased spouse owes money for an outstanding debt.
  • They are from the IRS and require bank account information to direct deposit a COVID-19 stimulus check or tax return money.
  • They are from Medicare and require information from the senior’s Medicare card.
  • They are from the credit card company and need to verify personal information and the credit card number.
  • They pose as a family member stating that they need money immediately due to a sudden hospitalization or another emergency.
  • They are seeking a donation to a charity.
  • A robocall may have an automated option to “Press 1” if you no longer wish to receive these calls; however, pressing #1 actually confirms to the scammer that the phone number is valid.

Internet Scams

Our senior population is growing more internet savvy; however, the scams are becoming savvier as well and can fool all of us, including our seniors. These are the common internet scams affecting our seniors:

  • Online dating scams that result in a senior sending money to a supposed love interest.
  • Email “phishing” scams that send fraudulent emails that appear to be from a reputable company or organization, but ultimately are a means of acquiring personal or financial information.
  • Fraudulent anti-virus pop-ups that state they prevent computer viruses, but are the opposite and infect the computer with a virus.
  • Fraudulent pharmaceutical companies claim that seniors can purchase medications at a lower price.
  • Technical support scams that, if a senior reaches out for help for a computer issue, the scammer takes control of the computer and retrieves personal information.

In-Person Scams

Thieves have no shame. They will look you square in the eye and try to acquire what they need to get what they want. A few in-person scams to watch out for are:

  • Home repair scams that claim to complete work but do not.
  • A contractor or worker claims to complete work at the house and asks for your signature. The scammer then uses the signature to falsify paperwork, such as a deed to a home or for identity theft purposes.
  • Scammers prey on seniors by peddling anti-aging treatments or services that are fake and fraudulent.

Mail Scams

The envelope and paperwork inside look official, but it can be fake. The form asks for personal information such as social security number, Medicare number, or credit card information. Here are a few mail scams to be aware of:

  • Solicitations for donations to fraudulent organizations.
  • Mail theft.
  • Sweepstakes or lottery mailings that ask for you to pay a fee to claim your prize and unlock your winning payout.
  • A recent mailing includes an official-looking debit card that asks you to call a number or go online to enter your personal information to access the money on the pre-paid debit card.

Be Smarter than the Scammers

We all have to be on our toes to ensure we don’t fall prey to fraud. In addition to educating our senior loved ones themselves, those of us caregiving for seniors are another line of defense to ensure we protect our loved ones from scammers.

As the premier in-home senior care provider in Manassas, VA, and surrounding areas, our caregivers at Visiting Angels watch for suspicious activity that may be targeting our clients. As we go about providing our compassionate caregiving services, we watch for anything out-of-the-ordinary. We offer another set of eyes. In addition to sharing concerns with our senior client, we communicate promptly with the client’s family to alert them about any observed suspicious activity.

If you or a senior loved one could benefit from in-home care services with Visiting Angels Manassas, give us a call at 703-530-8811 or contact us online today to learn more.

Serving Prince William and Western Fairfax Counties including Fort Belvoir and Lorton

Visiting Angels PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA
9161 Liberia Ave # 205
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703-530-8811
Fax: 703-656-4769

Serving Prince William and Western Fairfax Counties including Fort Belvoir and Lorton

Visiting Angels PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA
9161 Liberia Ave # 205
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: 703-530-8811
Fax: 703-656-4769