Senior Scams: Top Scams That Target the Elderly
Unfortunately, seniors and the elderly are deceived by over 3 billion USD annually. But with some help, you can help combat this awful issue.
As people age, they’re at increased risk of falling victim to scams that prey on their sense of trust. These scammers take advantage of the most defenseless members of our society. And it’s time to start talking about the senior scams that are happening every day.
So, read on to learn about the most common senior scams and how to keep your loved ones safe!
The Charity Scam
The charity scam is one of the most common scams as it can happen to anyone. No matter their age. But the elderly are particularly at risk.
It happens when someone is allured into giving up their cash to a fake charity or organization. It’s one of the most horrible scams since it steals people’s hard-earned cash while damaging charities’ reputations.
It’s also one of the most effective scams. It preys off heartwarming individuals trying to give money to a good cause.
Before sending money to a foundation, do some research. And if you feel pressured into giving up your cash, it’s most certainly a scam.
The Grandchild Scam
The grandchild scam is a scam targeting seniors. It seems like a scheme only from a movie, but unfortunately, it does happen in the real world.
It begins with the scammer reaching out to somebody. It can happen in numerous ways. But the most popular is through a phone call with information found online and on social media.
Once the scammer convinces someone that they’re a grandchild, they ask for money. They do this by stating they’re in a difficult situation and need money to get home.
Avoid this scam by ringing up and asking other relatives about affairs. If they’re asking you to keep it to yourself, you know something is wrong.
The Online Relationship Scam
Alarmingly, in 2021 online daters lost around 547 million USD.
Online dating doesn’t always have the best reputation. It’s another scam that can happen to anyone, but seniors are most at risk.
It happens when someone creates a fake profile and builds a relationship to steal money.
It doesn’t occur overnight. It might take a couple of weeks or months for scammers to build up trust before asking for money.
There are many signs you could be dealing with a relationship scam. Refusing to have a phone call or video chat is a red flag. And it often means the person you’re talking to isn’t the person in the picture.
Sometimes, it can be hard to spot a “Catfish.” But you should never send money to someone you haven’t met in real life.
The Fake Website Scam
Scammers like to target the elderly through technology. That’s since the concept is still relatively new to them. And they don’t always share the same knowledge as millennials.
Since the turn of the century, online scams have continued to grow. As of 2022, around 18,000 fraud websites are created each day.
They target seniors by claiming to sell items like medication or nutritional assistance. Scams collect their card details once they “pay” for an item. Sometimes, you could end up with stolen items.
You can tell if the website is secure if the beginning of the website (URL) begins with “HTTPS.” An unsecured website won’t have the S and look like “HTTP.”
But for more peace of mind, you can ask a friend or relative the look at the website to see if it’s legit.
Take Precautions and Avoid Senior Scams
After reading our guide, we hope you’re well informed about some of the most popular senior scams.
It’s scary to think that something might happen to you or your loved ones. But with a few precautions, you can protect yourself from the evil of this world.
