The Millstone Times May 2020

As We Age

Protecting Our Loved Ones From Senior Scams

Seniors make easy targets for scams because they are available because they are retired, they’re home, they read their mail and answer their phones. They are more likely to have a nest egg and less likely to report they were scammed and if they do report it, their memory may prevent them from providing detailed information. The National Crime Prevention Center(NCPC) reports that seniors over age 60 are targets of 49%of telemarketing scams involvingmedical care services and products, 41% involving sweepstakes and prizes and 40% involving magazine sales. The NCPC each victim of sweepstakes fraud lost an average of $7,000.00. Although my mother in law had very little money when she passed away, we did find several thousand dollars in bogus sweepstakes tickets that she had purchased.

To prevent this, you can monitor your loved ones mail. Look for stacks of unsolicited mail with various offers for money or prizes. See if they have received packages of cheap costume jewelry or other gifts. Offer to help balance their checkbook and look for any unusual large withdrawals or checks to companies you never heard of and check credit card statements, as well. As you can see, when someone we love becomes vulnerable, there are many people ready to take advantage. Sometimes the solution is to take control of their affairs as a trustee or conservator. But often, all that is necessary is a Power of Attorney or simply a heart to heart talk.

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42 The Millstone Times

May 2020