Elderly Fraud isn't a new thing that we've had to worry about, but with technology, there are more avenues for those trying to fraud our parents or grandparents to take.

According to the National Council On Aging, the top 5 ways the elderly are being targeted are:

  1. Government Impersonation Scams - pretending to be from the IRS, Social Security, Medicare or other government agency
  2. Sweepstakes or Lottery Scam - caller says to the older adult that they've won and to claim the prize, they'll need to send some sort of pre-payment.
  3. Robocalls and phone scams - Trying to get the person to say certain phrases that can be used to access other accounts or approve bogus charges
  4. Computer tech scams - A fake technical support person convinces the elderly person that they need to gain access to their computer to repair something. Instead they steal information or charge the person for fake repairs.
  5. Grandparent scam - Scammer pretends to be a grandchild and convinces the elderly to send money for bail or some other financial need.

With the potential of scammers trying to take advantage of your parent or grandparent at all times of the day, it's important to be vigilant and proactive to avoid these issues.

If you've had to try teaching new technology to someone, you know how difficult and frustrating it can be. When someone doesn't understand the way it works and can't grasp on to the concept, it causes issues. When these issues occur, it's even more important to help them anytime they ask for help. It only takes one time of them falling for a scam to potentially ruin their life.

With fraud becoming so widespread, there are ways you can jump into action if you feel your parent or grandparent is being targeted. One of those ways is by calling the Elderly Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)

Protecting our seniors is a top priority! If you suspect elder fraud, use the Elder Fraud Hotline – a dedicated resource to report and prevent scams targeting our beloved elders.

 

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