When it comes to growing older, people tend to take advantage. Whether you’re someone close to retirement age, or someone who is caring for an elderly parent, you’re in the right place. Today, we’ll be taking a look at 3 of the most common elderly scams taking place in 2019.
You should always keep in mind that while these may be the most common elderly scams, that number does not stop after 3. Always be vigilant, and make sure you check before giving information to anyone.
We’ll also be breaking each scam down individually, this way you can really spend some time getting to know them.
Therefore, the scams that we’ll be going over today are as follows:
- Elderly Medicare scams
- Phone scams
- The sweepstakes scam
Each scam will have its own section, so please feel free to navigate freely throughout this article. If you ever feel lost, confused, or stuck, you can always refer back to this article as a guide.
Now, without wasting anymore of that precious time, let’s dive right in and take a look at some of these scams.
The Medicare scam
Once you reach the age of 65, you’ll qualify for Medicare. While this may be a great time to sign on for some insurance, it also opens the door for scammers. Plus, Medicare scams are dangerous, because the scammer will often act as the representative.
This scam can be done in two ways.
The first way this scam can work is pretty simple, and the most common. The representative will immediately ask you for your information, and once you give it, they’ll likely end the call. From there, they can either sell or use your information for their personal gain.
The second way this can happen is through fake services. The fake Medicare representative can actually make it seem like you had a fake medical expense, and will get your Medicare to pay them for it.
If you want to avoid this scam, the single best thing you can do is ask if there is someone else to speak with. If they decline, you know it’s not a real Medicare representative.
Medicare scams are brutal, because everyone over 65 has access. This makes it easy for scammers to call whoever they please, so make sure you’re prepared next time.
Phone scams
Phone scams are the most common elderly scams, because they come in so many different shapes and sizes. Scammers will use fake charities, children, and even businesses deals. Luckily, we know the most common ones, so we’ll be going over some examples for you today.
The business deal
If someone random ever calls upon you to enter a business, and you’re over 65, chances are it could be a scam. This is especially true if they ask you to wire them money upfront. If this ever happens to you, simply hang up the phone.
The charity
Charity calls can happen at anytime, and they tend to prey on elderly compassion. This can lead to a fake charity asking for donations, contributions, or even monthly donations. The biggest way to avoid this scam is to arm yourself with knowledge. A charity will never beg for money over the phone, and if they seem persistent, chances are it’s a scam.
The accident
This is actually one of the more common elderly scams, and this is due to the fact that it’s so easy to pull off. In this case, the scammer will call you about an accident that occurred, and request you send them money. They might want you to avoid telling other family members, and if that’s the case, that’s your tell tale scam signal.
Telemarketing scams become more creative each year, so always make sure you’re looking out for these.
The sweepstakes scam
These scams are actually quite popular, and give phone scams a run for their money. This is due to the fact that everyone loves winning, and these scammers know how to play off of those emotions.
This scam will usually involve the lottery, a random surprise, or any other sweepstakes. Most of the time they’ll send you a check, but after a few days that check will likely bounce.
One of the major tells that you’re on the other end of this scam is the fee. A sweepstakes is not going to make you pay any fees upfront, instead, they’ll likely take it out of your winnings. So if someone is ever asking for a sweepstakes fee upfront, you’ll definitely want to run the other way.
Recap
Always feel free to refer back here as a guide if you ever find yourself curious once again. While these are the 3 most common elderly scams, they’re not the only ones. Therefore, you should always be on your guard when something seems fishy. Some of these scammers will even go to great lengths to see you in person, so make sure you’re careful.
Now that you know the facts, hopefully, you can better arm yourself against the ruthless world of elderly scammers.