Scams Target Black Senior Citizens

One on the biggest problems of the digital age is protecting information. The task becomes even greater when you have to protect your information and the information of a parent or grandparent. Today’s world is digital and lightening fast. Its filled with new technology and even newer scams that target our elders. How do we fight it?

First we have to understand what scams target black senior citizens. African-American senior citizens are highly vulnerable to modern scammers especially if they are using the Internet. According to the FBI the most common scam perpetrated against black seniors is non-delivery of goods, credit fraud and identity theft. Many of our elders simply do not understand modern technology and how they are vunerable. Why?

Senior are inviting targets for scammers because, 

• Many senior citizens are not tech savvy and do not understand modern ways of information collection and theft.
• Senior citizens do not always understand the severe impact of identity theft and fail to properly protect themselves.
• Senior citizens have savings, the proverbial “nest egg.” They own their home, and tend to have excellent credit.
• Black people brought up in the 30s, 40s, and 50s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Con artists know this and use these chatacterstics against them.  Some senior citizens find it difficult to say “no” or just hang up the telephone.
• Senior citizens may not know who to report a fraud too, may be ashamed  of having been scammed, or don’t even know they have been scammed.
• Elderly victims may fear that relatives may think the victims no longer have the mental capacity to take care of their own financial affairs.
• When our elders do report the crime they often make poor witnesses. Con artists know this.  Scammers count on the effects of age on memory. Senior citizens may not be able to provide enough detailed information to investigators. Senior citizens may take weeks or months to realize they have been scammed. This makes it even more difficult to remember details from the events.

Seniors and identity theft

Seniors sometimes employ visiting nurses or in home health care workers. They need regular visits to doctor’s offices, live in senior housing or assisted living facilities, or have other service providers that may possess the senior’s personal information. You can find senior citizens personal information in places like the local pharmacy and senior transportation services. In addition, we must also account for less than trustworthy family members who may prey on their elderly relatives. I’m just being real with you. Here are a few tips to protect your elders from ID theft.

Advise your parent or grandparent never give out personal information on the phone, through mail, or over the Internet unless you know the receiver and have initiated the contact. Other tips include,

• Shred all financial documents, bank statements, sensitive mail, credit card solicitations, and documents that contain any type of personal information.
• Guard credit cards. Closely watch sales people and wait staff in restaurants, and anyone who asks for their credit card.
• Reduce the number of credit cards they may have by destroying rarely used or unused cards.
• Do not permit your aging parents’ driver’s license to be copied. Anyone doing this has instant access to the senior’s address and from there, can get bank account numbers and personal data.
• Make sure they have a locked mail box or post office box.
• Utilize direct deposit as much as possible. Have checks delivered to their bank or post office box, not their home address.
• Ensure all regular monthly bills, mortgage, utilities, etc.,  are paid automatically from their bank account and monitor the withdrawals diligently.
• Secure any sensitive information from caregivers housekeepers or others who may have access to their home.

According to the FBI these are the scams our elders and their caregivers need to be alert for:

• Health Care, Heath Insurance and Medical Equipment Fraud
• Counterfeit Prescription Drugs
• Funeral and Cemetary Fraud
• Fraudulent Anti-Aging Products
• Telemarketing Fraud
• Internet Fraud
• Fraudulent investment schemes
• Reverse mortgage scams.

To find more information on how to fight  fraud against senior citizens especially those listed above please visit the FBI website. You can also find vaulable information on the website of the National Council on Aging and StopFraud.gov.

Please see: Elderly on West and South Sides of Chicago Targets of Reverse Mortgage Scheme, Say Advocates.

Now you know