Scammers

Scammers are very, very good at what they do.  They will use telephone, mail, door-to-door solicitations, fliers, emails, texts, or phony websites to make contact with potential victims.

Everyone is a potential target, but scammers like seniors because they assume that seniors live alone, have a nest egg, and are more polite toward strangers.

What they want: your money and your Social Security number (Medicare number).  Guard these fiercely.  NEVER, EVER give money or your Social Security number to someone who initiates contact with you via email, phone, or home visit.

“When I hear someone say that only stupid people fall for fraud, I feel like asking for that person’s phone number. But here’s the thing: I didn’t want to talk to stupid people, because stupid people don’t have $50,000 lying around to give me. You would be amazed at how many doctors, lawyers, engineers and college professors I ripped off. The bottom line is, fraud is a crime that can happen to anyone, given the right con man and a victim with the right set of circumstances.” From “Confessions of a Con Artist” in AARP The Magazine by Doug Shadel

Signs of a Scam

• You’re pressured to “act now!”  You have to make up your mind right away.
• There is an emotional trigger by playing into fear, greed, hope, or excitement. For example, they may threaten that you will be arrested, prosecuted, or sued if you don’t do something immediately.  Or they may claim you are going to get rich.
• You’ve been specially selected (for this offer).
• You’ve won a contest you’ve never heard of or entered; you’ve won a valuable prize; or you’ve won big money (often in a foreign lottery).
• You’re asked to wire money, or use a prepaid money card, or read gift card numbers over the phone.
• You have to pay a fee to receive your “prize.”
• Your personal information is requested.
• You’re asked to provide remote access to your computer or other electronic devices.
• A large down payment is requested.
• You’re told not to tell friends and family about the conversation.
• A company refuses to provide written information, or says you don’t need to check our company with anyone.
• A company has no physical address, only a P.O. Box.

Protect Yourself

• Hang up the phone.  Don’t press 1 to speak to a live operator or any other keys to take your number off the list.  Don’t worry about being impolite.  Just hang up.
• Research businesses and charities.  Never pay money to a person or a company that refuses to give you written information, a phone number, a physical address, or references.
• Keep your credit card, checking account, Medicare number, and Social Security numbers to yourself.  Never give personal information to someone you don’t know or trust, even if they ask you to “confirm” this information.  That’s a trick.
• Resist the pressure to make a decision immediately.  Take your time.  There are very few legitimate offers out there that can’t wait for you to do some due diligence and make a…

This article was sourced from ProSeniors.org.