HONOLULU — Fraud targeting senior citizens is a growing concern as millions have fallen victim to scammers. BBB encourages families to keep the lines of communication open regarding finances and some common cons targeting senior citizens, a news release states.
HONOLULU — Fraud targeting senior citizens is a growing concern as millions have fallen victim to scammers. BBB encourages families to keep the lines of communication open regarding finances and some common cons targeting senior citizens, a news release states.
According to a June 2010 survey by Investor Protection Trust, more than 7.3 million senior citizens — roughly 20 percent of Americans aged 65 or older — have “been taken advantage of financially in terms of an inappropriate investment, unreasonably high fees for financial services, or outright fraud.”
“Having a serious conversation with your parents or grandparents about how they are managing their money is not easy, but it is extremely important in order to help protect them from crooks,” said Dwight Kealoha, chief executive officer of Hawaii’s BBB.
“It’s extremely important to keep the lines of communication open so that you can identify suspicious spending habits, as well as educate your senior family members on recognizing the red flags of common cons.”
BBB warns against the following five scams that commonly target senior citizens:
Sweepstakes and lottery scams
Typically, a letter arrives in the mail stating the recipient has won a lottery or sweepstakes prize; it might even claim to be winnings from Publisher’s Clearing House or Reader’s Digest. The letter instructs the supposed winner to deposit an enclosed check and then wire a portion back to the company to cover taxes or administration fees.
While the funds will initially show up in the bank account, the money will be removed when the bank determines the check is a fake. The victim is out whatever they wired back to the scammers — often amounting to thousands of dollars.
BBB advice: Never wire money to someone you don’t know. You should never have to send money to claim a prize.
Medicare scams
Navigating the Medicare system isn’t easy and some scammers will look for any opportunity to take advantage of the confusion. Commonly, a scammer will claim to be with Medicare and ask for personal information such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers. The individual might be given any number of excuses to provide this information, including that an error needs to be fixed, that he or she is part of a survey or eligible to receive free products or can sign up for a new prescription drug plan.
BBB advice: Remind family members that Medicare will never call to ask for sensitive personal financial information. If you suspect fraud contact your local police or the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Bereavement scams
Scammers will often try to take advantage of the increased vulnerability of senior citizens who have recently lost a loved one, such as a spouse. In one recent example, a mother and daughter team in Ohio would find targets by scouring the obituaries. They would then call the widow or widower and claim that their spouse had outstanding debts that needed to be paid immediately. Victims would then provide a blank check or credit card number to repay the alleged debt.
BBB advice: Offer help to family members if they have recently lost a loved one and are inexperienced in managing finances. If you are uncertain about owing a debt when collectors call, ask for written confirmation.
Deceptive professionals
While many scams occur without direct personal contact, some scammers will be invited in the front door, including technicians, contractors, air duct cleaners and other service providers. Some professionals will lie about the extent of the problem or claim safety issues and then inflate prices for unsuspecting senior customers.
BBB advice: Find professionals you can trust in the BBB Accredited Business Directory. Always research a company with BBB before you hand over any money, and report any deceptive services to your BBB, local law enforcement and the state Attorney General.
Investment and work at home opportunities
Promises of easy money often target older adults because they may be looking to supplement their income. The pitch might come in the form of an investment opportunity that promises big returns, or as a way to make money at home for an upfront cost. Regardless of the specifics, the victim is offered what sounds like a great opportunity but the extra income never materializes.
BBB advice: Always research any work at home opportunity with BBB. Beware of investment or money-making offers that seem too good to be true or use high pressure sales tactics to get you to sign up immediately.
Visit www.bbb.org for more advice on avoiding scams and fraud.
