July 26, 2016
News from Seniors And Law Enforcement Together (SALT)
Seniors Are Under Attack!
The Top 6 Scams
By Kathy Horrell
CASI Director of Senior Services
Scams targeting older adults have become so prevalent that they’re now considered “the crime of the 21st century.” It’s estimated that Americans lose $40 billion each year to fraudulent telephone sales, with 80 percent of that money coming from older adults. But why?
Statistics show that senior citizens are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their home, and/or to have excellent credit—all of which make them attractive to con artists. They are also less likely to report a fraud, because they don’t know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know they have been scammed.
Many Quad City seniors are among those who have already been attacked. Area law enforcement agencies and senior organizations are working together to try and prevent seniors from becoming a victim of financial scamming.
According to the National Association of Triads, here are the top six scams involving seniors happening in our community:
1. Telemarketing that includes internet, phones and mail.
Scammers are sending out e-mails on official-looking letterhead, such as bank letterhead, saying there is a problem with the account and the senior needs to update information, password and account number. Everyone should be aware that financial institutions do not send e-mails asking for this information. If you receive an e-mail, you should report it to your bank or credit union immediately and delete the e-mail.
2. Fake charities.
With the holiday season just around the corner, many will be solicited to make a donation to a “worthy” cause. But how do you know if your donation is going to the charity? Many charities do not solicit donations over the phone or via e-mail. Pick charities that are local, ones that you have a connection with. Ask questions. “How will my donation be used?” If it’s a national charity…”how much of my donation will stay in my home town?”
3. Sweepstakes.
Many times people will get an official-looking check. The account number is fraudulent, but the routing number is correct. The bank reads it as a valid check. What the sweepstakes will tell a senior is, “Cash the check, you get the bulk of the money and send $5,000 to us for processing.” Fifteen days later, that check bounces and the senior is liable for that $5,000. Some even come looking like official IRS refunds with the message: “Here’s your check, but you need to pay the late fees.”
4. Health-care fraud.
It’s a growing “industry” and frequently ignored. With health care, there can be misuse of the medical card. Scammers then fabricate the need for treatment and get paid for it. For instance, scammers can find out a senior is diabetic, call him up and say, “Give us your Medicare card number, and we can send your supplies through the mail.” Or they can obtain free treatment by assuming that older adult’s identity.
5. Identity theft.
A senior gets the call: “We need to verify your account number; give us the last four digits of your Social Security number.” They can match that with the phone number, last place of employment, home address, and once they have put that package together, take a loan out on the home, open credit cards, go to big-box stores and open an account, or get a $5,000 line of credit. A senior gets the bill, and they get the goods.
If you feel that you or someone you know is a victim of any scam, contact your police department. Quad City area law enforcement agencies are member of the Quad City TRAID/SALT organization. This is a community based organization that connect agencies and individuals involved in elderly issues. The goal of Triad is to reduce criminal victimization of the elderly by bringing together community agencies to form a relationship of trust with the elderly, enabling them to jointly recognize and solve problems. Quad City TRIAD meets 4th Wednesday of each month at the Center For
Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI), at 9:30 a.m. This meeting is open to the public. CASI is located at 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport, Iowa.
