Helping Seniors Stay Safely at Home

Transcription

1 Home Instead Senior Care East Pasco Chapel Park Drive Wesley Chapel, Florida website: homeinstead.com/755 License, Bonded and Insured HSC: Helping Seniors Stay Safely at Home

2 Scammed No one ever wants to hear their senior has been scammed! But the fact remains there is a growing incidence of senior scams that are putting many older adults in harm s way, threatening to strip them of their assets, their independence and their trust. Although there are several different scam schemes, seniors are most often targeted for IDENTITY THEFT. That is why the Home Instead Senior Care Network of both domestic and international franchises has launched the Protect Seniors from Fraud Public Education Program. Impact of Crime on Seniors: Scammers are clever and often thorough. They collect enough personal information about their senior target so that when they make their approach and make their request, it all sounds very convincing to the senior. Whether or not someone intervenes to stop the scam or the senior is actually scammed, the senior sustains psychological damage and may suffer the following repercussions: 1. Physical and Emotional Impact. They may recuperate more slowly, and life-threatening illness can occur. 2. Inability to Recover Financially. If they lose money from a financial or real estate scam, robbery or burglary, they often struggle to make ends meet on their fixed income. 3. Loss of Independence. Studies have shown that crime is often the catalyst that can bring an end to emotional and financial independence and shorten the lives of seniors. 4. Diminished Quality of Life. The inability to recover, worrying about the likelihood that it will happen again and regretting the consequences of being gullible and falling for the scam, often drive victims to become reclusive, embarrassed and distressed, with a very low level of self-confidence. 5. Vicarious Victimization. The National Center on Elder Abuse has identified a phenomenon called vicarious victimization, which means the senior has not been a victim but fears being victimized. The senior often alters their lifestyle by withdrawing from activities that often gave them pleasure - socializing with friends, church, shopping, etc. 2

3 Top Senior Scams: Seniors are under attack in the United States from criminals - domestic and foreign - who devise something new every day in an attempt to steal their money, identification, property, etc. Scam Type Scam Description What Senior / CAREGiver Should Do Identity Theft There are several varieties of identity theft. The senior gets a call or some kind of request to verify information: bank account, last 4-digits of social security number, home address, last place of employment, etc. Once the scammer has the info they can open up credit cards in the name of the senior. The scammers then buy, buy, buy, and the senior gets the bill! NEVER give personal info out over the phone, in an , or to someone who comes to door. Financial Exploitation, including, Online Investment and Securities Fraud Scammers will sell seniors long-term securities or stock. The scammers rely on the senior s inability to understand the fine print. These types of scammers usually work on commission. Do NOT purchase stocks, bonds, or any securities without help from a loved one. IF you do NOT understand what you are reading, or if you cannot read the contract, do NOT sign. Telemarketing that includes internet, telephone and mail Scammers often send an on bank letterhead that says there is a problem with the account, and the senior needs to update information, password and account number. NEVER respond to an from your bank or any bank requesting information. YOUR BANK ALREADY HAS ALL YOUR INFORMATION. CALL YOUR BANK. NEVER give information about yourself, bank or credit cards over the phone. CALL YOUR BANK. Your bank KNOWS your information, they will not ask for it again. IF YOU MUST CALL YOUR BANK, CALL the number on the back of your credit card. 3

4 Scam Type Scam Description What Senior / CAREGiver Should Do Fake Charities Fake charity requests come in many varieties. The senior may get a call from someone requesting a donation for a reputable charity - unfortunately, they do not represent that charity. Other scammers may call requesting donations for non-existent charities. NEVER send money to someone on the phone. JUST HANG UP. ALWAYS ask a family member or friend to look at the request from a charity BEFORE sending a check. Sweepstakes Seniors may get an official looking check for a large amount of money. The instructions will be to cash the check and send half the money to a specific address and then keep the rest. The check is bogus and the senior is out the money they send to the scammers. Some of these checks come as official looking IRS Refunds, and the senior is requested to pay late fees or processing fees. NEVER deposit a check from some you do not know. Take the letter and the check to your bank and ask to speak to the bank manager. Healthcare Fraud An entire industry has grown up around healthcare fraud. Once scammers have the senior s Medicare, or other healthcare information they then submit paperwork requesting payment for medical care or medical equipment unknown to the senior. They can also obtain treatment by assuming the senior s identity. There are several things you might do: Call Medicare. Call your insurance company. Call your doctor. Call the police. Let loved ones know. 4

5 Why Seniors are Targets? Never underestimate the resourcefulness of scammers. Some drive around neighborhoods looking for older adults working in their yard or getting the mail. Scammers may make a note of addresses, and return to try the sell the senior an unnecessary home repair, or piece of equipment. Below are some common characteristics of seniors that make them vulnerable: Availability. Seniors are seen as targets because they are retired and less mobile, and at home to answer calls. Scam artists often troll for their next victim by calling or stopping by the house. Isolation. Seniors are often alone because families move away and sometimes have little or no interaction with their loved one. Some seniors do not have others to help review large or even small decisions. Loneliness. Because of their isolation, seniors friendships often can be limited, and this can make them vulnerable to that friendly cold caller who drops by the house. Some scams are even perpetrated by seemingly trusted people who work to build new friendships with older adults and then prey on their vulnerabilities. Prosperity. Money is one of the most notable reasons for senior vulnerability. Scammers see them as an unending supply of wealth that includes homes, property, life savings and other assets. Sickness. Chronic health issues mean that many older adults have difficulty maintaining their property. Scam artists know that a senior may rely on outside sources for help. Unscrupulous workers can bilk seniors out of large sums of money for a job that should have cost considerably less. Dementia will only exacerbate the problem. At Home Instead we believe it is never too soon for loved ones to talk to their seniors about scammers and fraud schemes. Home Instead CAREGivers are always on the lookout for telemarketers, requests for money and personal information that comes in the mail and via and solicitors that come to the door. Our Home Instead CAREGivers are licensed, bonded and insured. We do background checks, check motor vehicle records, complete drug testing and verify references for all our CAREGivers. 5

6 Senior Scam Risk At Home Instead we ask families to evaluate their senior loved one using the following checklist. If they answer yes to 3 or more questions, then your senior may be a scam target risk. Question 1 Do they live alone? 2 Are they alone for long periods of time? 3 Do they have and use a landline phone? (it s much easier to get info from a landline number) 4 Do they have few if any visitors throughout the day? 5 They have NOT been signed up on the Do-Not-Call Registry. (charities and political calls are not impacted by registering) 6 They would NEVER be rude to anyone on the phone in an effort to end the call. 7 They have a computer and spend time on the internet everyday. 8 They like to order and make purchases on-line. 9 They send donations to one or more charities. 10 They are always looking for a needy cause. 11 They always fly an American flag. 12 They display veteran s stickers on car and/or home windows. 13 They have an unsecured mailbox near the street. 14 They take pain medication and then usually leave it on the counter. 15 They often look to neighbors and others for help. 16 They are generally trusting of people s motives. 17 They have chronic health problems. 18 They have a computer, but aren t very familiar with how to use it. 19 They have dementia or Alzheimer s Disease. 20 They spend a lot of time during the day out of doors, and enjoy engaging neighbors and anyone else who comes by in conversation. 21 They are worried they might outlive their money. 22 They are always looking for ways to make extra money. 23 They will do anything to help a grandchild, especially giving money. YES NO 6

7 What to do if Your Senior has been Scammed Below are some key steps to follow if your loved one has been scammed. Contact the Police. File a report with your local police department (the (to the police police in the area in where the area the theft where occurred). the theft occurred). Get a Copy of the Police Report. You may need a copy of the police report to support your Get Copy of the Police Report. You may need copy of the police report to claims to credit bureaus, creditors, debt collectors, banks, etc. support your claims to credit bureaus, creditors, debt collectors, banks, etc. Close your Accounts. If you notice that any accounts under your senior s name have been tampered with or opened without consent, close them immediately. Call each bank or company and then follow up in writing. If there are fraudulent charges or debts on the account or if a new account has been opened, immediately file a FRAUD REPORT with the bank s Fraud Department. If you close an account and open a new one, be sure to create new PINs and Passwords. Close Fraudulent New Accounts. If a new account has been opened without your senior s knowledge or consent, ask the company where the account was opened if they have a Fraud Department. If it does, file a Fraud Report with that department. If not, ask if the company will accept an ID Theft Affidavit from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can print out the ID Theft Affidavit form at If you want more information about the form go to: File a Federal Complaint. The Federal Trade Commission is the Federal Consumer Protection Agency. The FTC, in conjunction with the FBI, maintains an Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse. The FTC aids identity theft investigations by collecting complaints from victims and sharing the information with law enforcement agencies, credit bureaus, companies where the fraud occurred and other government agencies. Initiate a Credit Bureau Fraud Alert. The next step is to place a Fraud Alert on your senior s credit file as well as review the credit report. This will prevent a thief from opening any more accounts in the senior s name. You should contact the three major credit bureaus. If you place a fraud alert with one credit bureau, that credit bureau is required by law to contact the other two bureaus. The other bureaus will include the Fraud Alert in their reporting. However, to ensure that the alert is included in the credit file as quickly as possible, you should contact all three credit bureaus immediately. Follow-Up. After initiating a Fraud Alert at each of the three Credit Bureaus, you should request a credit report to ensure the fraud alert is included. You should also review the credit report for unopened accounts, unfamiliar debts on the account, inaccurate information and inquiries from companies you do not know. As a precaution, you should request a credit report on your elderly loved one at least annually in order identify and report unlawful activity. TIPS 7

8 TIPS: Identify Theft Specific Tips: Do NOT provide any personal information over the phone - hang up if some asks for your social security number, credit card number, bank account number, address, birthdate, etc. Bank and law enforcement people will want to talk to you in person if there is a problem. NEVER respond to anyone on the phone who says they are from your bank or are the police. If someone comes to your house, calls you on the phone, s you, or sends you a letter saying you have won something - ignore them. Do NOT respond. NOTHING IS FREE. And you should NEVER respond if you are asked to send a check to claim a prize. If you use a computer, ensure you are have the latest antivirus software installed, and are updating it at least monthly. If you do not know what this is, ask someone who does! If you use a computer, make sure you have activated your firewall. If you do not know what this is, ask someone who does! IF you use a credit card for internet purchases, dedicate ONE card for all internet purchases. Do NOT use multiple cards. Review the statement for your internet card when it comes each month to make sure YOU made all the purchases listed on the statement. Shred all old credit cards, and documents that have personal information. Consider adding fraud/identity theft insurance to your homeowner s insurance policy, or tennant policy. Family members should go over bills, mail, credit card statements, etc., at least once a quarter to look for anything questionable that may mean identity fraud. Have a credit check done at least yearly and look for anything that might alert you to identity theft. Telphone Tips: Do not give personal information over the phone. Do not trust anyone on the phone who says they are from the your bank, or are the police. Both the bank and police will want to talk to you in person. Hang up if someone tells you you must act now, or you have won a free gift, etc. Never pay any money for winning a free prize. Never purchase anything over the telephone. Never respond to an offer you have not read and understand thoroughly. Hang up the phone if you feel uncomfortable. You do NOT owe them an explanation, they called you and interrupted your day - just hang up. If you have been victimized once, be wary of people who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance. Register both your home phone and cell phone on the Do NOT Call Registry. Mail Tips: Consider having a family member or trusted friend look over your bills and mail. 8

9 Do NOT send personal information - Social Security Number, bank information, credit card numbers, phone numbers, or address, through the mail to anyone you do NOT know, no matter what they have offered or promised you. NEVER respond to a sweepstakes or lottery letter by sending a check to claim your prize. Consider having a mailbox with a lock installed, or set up a post office box. Do not leave mail in an unsecured mailbox for pickup.take it to the post office. Know your billing cycles, and act on any missing mail. Know when bank and credit card statements, and pension and Social Security payments are supposed to arrive each month. Have your Social Security payment direct desposited to your bank account. Review monthly statements for unauthorized charges. If you receive merchanise COD (cash on delivery) you did not order - do not open it. Write REFUSED on the front, and send it back. If you continue to get scam mail, take it to the post office, and request it be forwarded to the U.S. Postal Inspector. Other Tips: Shred all documents that could be useful to criminals, including bank statements, credit card statements and offers, and other financial information. For a small fee places like Staples and Office Depot will shred documents for you. Add a NO SOLICITORS sign to your loved one s front door. Talk to your loved one about scammers and scamming techniques. Watch for people who have befriended your loved one. Lonely or isolated seniors may be vulnerable to criminals who befriend them and provide companionship. Ask to talk to your loved one s new friend to find out more - a thief probably will not hang around to chat with you! Seniors who are scammed may be embarrassed and try to hide what happened. Watch for changes in their lifestyle as well as other unusual financial or business activity. If your senior can no longer handle their own finances, encourage them to put a plan in place that can help ensure bills are paid and assets are protected. If you cannot be there for your senior, find trustworthy people who can serve as eyes and ears for your senior by screening door-to-door scammers and others who seek to exploit by telphone or computer. Helpers could be relatives, friends, church members or professional caregivers such as those from Home Instead Senior Care. 9

10 Resources Local Police Phone Numbers: Zephryhills Dade City / Pasco County Sheriff (352) Better Business Bureau: Use their website to find the nearest location: The Better Business Bureau may not be able to locate your loved one s money, but they can offer support and tips. Many Better Business Bureaus have senior lines, which provide information specific to seniors and the most prevalent con games going on in your area. Elder Affairs Helpline: Florida Departmentof Elder Affairs: Protect Seniors from Fraud: Home Instead Senior Care East Pasco Chapel Park Drive Wesley Chapel, FL office FAX website: 10