Information provided by the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida
Why are seniors targeted?
- They are more likel to be at home to answer the door or telephone
- They tend to be more trusting and less likely to suspect a con artist.
- They may be lonely and thus susceptible to a friendly offer.
- They don’t recognize common persusation tactics and/or they may act impulsively.
- They may bephysically incapable to making their own home reairs, exposing them to pitches from workers who knock on the door and offer to do repairs cheaply.
- They may be on fixed incomes, making them vulnerable to promises of high investment returns or savings on medical care.
Scams may include the following:
- IRS/Debt Collection – You receive a phone call froms omeone who claims to be with the IRS (or another debt collection agency). They claim you ownmoney in back taxes (or other unpaid debt) and will be arrested or facelegal consequences if you do not pay (usually by wire or prepaid debit card). The scammer will often use caller ID spoofing and pretend to be a government agency or law enforcement in order to further invoke fear.
- Sweepstakes & Lottery Scams – You receive a brochure in the mail congratulating you for winning the lottery in a foreign country. The solicitating company promises to send your winning once you pay a tax or transfer fee. Those who pay the required fees never receive any winnings and lose the money they sent to claim their prize.
- Discount Medical Plans – With the rising cost of health care and prescripptiond rugs, consumers may look to discount plans for relief. Many discount palns claim to offer savings on prescription drugs, doctor visits and other medical services. Consumers should remember that discount plans are not considered health insurance and may not be regulated by your state. Consumers should also review the plan to ensure there is an adequate network of providers in their area.
- Phishing – You receive an email advising that there is a problem with your bbank or credit care acvcount and are instructed to follow a hyperlink to another site to provide verification information. Or you may receive a phone call from someone posing as a Medicare representative that claims to need you personal information to update records. In these or other similar cases, the information collected is actually used to steal your identity. Banks and other legitimate companies never request confidential information in this manner.
- Grandparent Scam – A con artist calls posing as a grandhcild in trouble, they need money wire immediately to avoid jail, get a car out of impound or for some other emergency. They often ask the senior not to tell the parents in order to “stay out of trouble”.
- Telemarketing Schemes – You receive a call offering a great deal on a product or vacation but have to act now to get the benefit. The caller asks for personal and financial information that will tehn be used to loot your bank account or run up charges on your credit card. Remember, don’t give out personal information over the phone if you don’t know or can’t verify the business. A legitimate business or financial institution that you have previously dealt with should already have your information.
- Phony Charities – To prevent being scammed by a fake charity, make sure you know with whom you are dealing. Some fake charities will choose a name imilar to that of one that is well recognized. Phony charities may also pressure you for an on-the-spot donations. Many of these center around veterans, police, and firefighters. If you decide to donate, don’t give cash. Instead write a check out to the organization, not the individual collecting.
- Home Repair Scams – Someone shows up at your door offering a variety of services. They may offer to repair your roof r apve your driveway with leftover materials from a previous job, mow your lawn or remodel your home for a very low price. Oftentimes, these con artists drive vehicles with out-of-state license plates and do shoddy work at an exorbitant price. They may also arrange financing through predatory lenders who charge high fees and monthly rates.
What should you do to protect yourself
Do:
- Check with your BBB before dealing with an unfamiliar business or charity.
- Ask you BBB for a list of Accredited Businesses in a specific industry before hiring a contractor or repairman. Make sure the contractor is properly licensed and insured.
- Keep careful records of your transactions such as bank or credit card statements.
- Have your Social Security or pension benefit checks direct deposited to reduce the possibility of identity theft.
Don’t:
- Don’t give personal or financial information to an unknown caller, and don’t provide such information in respnse to unsolicited email/Internet messages.
- Don’t yield to high pressure or emotional sales tactis. Read contracts thoroughly and seek advice if you don’t understand them.
- Don’t pay money to collect lottery winnings, especially from a contest you didn’t enter.
- Don’t pay the entire cost of repair job up-front. Try not to pay more than a third of the total cost. Make the final payment after inspection.
- Don’t wire money or send money by pre-apid card to anyone that you do not know.
- Don’t leave outgoing bill payments in an unsecured mailbox.