Stay Informed. Don’t be Taken in by a Con Artist

It would be nice to think that all people that do business do so with honest intentions. Sadly however, this is not always the case and Seniors, in particular, are targeted for many scams designed to part them with their hard earned money.

According to the FBI, this is due to a number of factors, one of which is that elderly victims of scams in many cases either do not realize that they have been scammed or are so ashamed that they do not report the crime. They do not want to lose their financial independence. They do not want family members to believe they no longer have the mental capacity to control their own affairs.

Not only that, but cons bank on the fact that if an elderly person DOES report a crime he or she will make a poor witness. They count on the effects of aging on memory making it difficult for the elderly to supply investigators with enough detailed information to prosecute.

So what can you do to PREVENT yourself or your Senior loved ones from being taken in by cons and unscrupulous businesses.

1. Be aware of (and inform your loved ones of) the types of scams that are out there.
2. Be wary of hiring people who come door to door looking for work. Check their references, ask for referrals. Just because they say they can do the work, doesn’t mean they can.
3. Educate yourself or your loved one about the risks of doing business over the phone. Learn to check with the Better Business Bureau, ask for references and CHECK up on those references before proceeding with any sort of business transaction. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, it is not only OKAY to hang up on a telephone salesperson -- it is often the right thing to do.
4. Take care not to be too trusting and keep a tight handle on your credit and bank information. According to the NIH “even ‘trusted’ friends and family members have been known to steal an older person’s money or property. Never give your credit card or bank account numbers out over the phone, internet or email, even if the person who is contacting you says they are from the bank.

For more information on Senior Fraud and how to prevent it visit the following websites:

• www.stopseniorscams.org
• www.aarp.org/money/
• www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/seniorsfam.htm
• www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/Newsletter/Fall2009/corner.htm

This information is brought to you compliments of My Home, My Choice. Home modifications for Seniors and the disabled.