Aging family members are often easy targets for scammers. Whether a door-to-door scammer, a telephone scammer, or a charity fundraiser, adults in their golden years are frequently targeted by con artists and fraudsters. Fortunately, many retirement communities have taken steps to protect their residents from these scams by implementing anti-fraud policies and hiring full-time security guards who keep an eye on everyone coming in and out of the building. Independent living in Saint George, FL can help you avoid these scams by offering a variety of services that include:
Door-to-Door Scams
There are a variety of scams targeting golden-age adults, but one of the most common and devastating is the “home improvement” scam. The scammer will knock on your door and claim to be doing work in the neighborhood at a low price. For example, they might offer to paint your home for only $100—a suspiciously good deal! They then ask you to pay them in advance before they start working on your home—but what can go wrong? While it may seem like a no-brainer not to trust this person, many fall prey to this scam because they want the work done quickly and cheaply to get back into their homes.
Scams Asking for Money
Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door and asks for money. Don’t give strangers money, even if they say they have a good reason for needing it.
If you get a call from someone who asks for money and says he’s from the government, hang up immediately and report the call to the local police or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC has information on its website about how to report telemarketing scams.
Don’t send money or provide personal information over email, text messages, or social media sites like Facebook or Twitter unless you know who you’re dealing with.
Aging family members are vulnerable to this fraud because they tend to have more money than other age groups-and con artists know. Scams like this have been around for decades. Still, they have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years thanks to social media and technological advances that make it easier for criminals to contact victims directly through phone calls and emails.
Healthcare Scam
A healthcare scam is when someone pretending to be a doctor or other medical provider calls you on the phone, asks for your personal information, or tries to sell you something. The caller may say they are checking up on your healthcare coverage, but this is usually not true.
Another type of healthcare scam targets people with Medicare insurance since these people can be more vulnerable than others because many different Medicare plans are available that offer different benefits and coverages at different costs. Some scammers tell aging adults that they don’t qualify for one of these plans and then charge them money to get them enrolled in another plan that does not exist yet but will soon become available—this also does not happen!
Independent Living Can Provide Protection from Scams That Target Older Adults
Independent living can provide protection from scams that target older adults. Here are some examples:
- Independent living communities have security measures in place. On-site guards help keep everyone safe. If something goes wrong, there are trained team members on hand to help with any emergency situation and regular inspections by qualified professionals to ensure the building is structurally sound and in good working order.
We hope this article has helped you understand the different types of scams targeting aging adults and how to protect your loved ones from them. Remember that there are many more scams, so it’s important to stay vigilant. If you think someone is trying to scam your elderly parent or yourself, contact the police immediately!
