Safer Seniors Program
One of the best ways to protect yourself from fraud is to stay informed about common scams and know what warning signs to look for. Always verify who you’re speaking with before sharing personal or financial information. If you’re unsure, hang up and contact the organization directly using a trusted phone number.
Common Scams
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Perhaps the most common scheme is when scammers use fake telemarketing calls to prey on older people, who as a group make twice as many purchases over the phone than the national average. While the image of the lonely senior citizen with nobody to talk to may have something to do with this, it is far more likely that older people are more familiar with shopping over the phone and therefore might not be fully aware of the risk.
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The con artist tells the individual that he/she has found a large sum of money and is willing to split it if the person will make a “good faith” payment by withdrawing funds from his/her bank account. Often, a second con artist is involved, posing as a lawyer, banker, or some other trustworthy stranger.
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The con artist gets the victim to wire or send money on the pretext that the person’s child or another relative is in the hospital and needs the money.
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The scammer asks you to provide personal information by pretending to be an employee at your bank. They may say that your account has been hacked and they want to verify your account information.
The Ann Davis Transition Society team has put together the following videos to help you learn more about fraud prevention and how to protect yourself from scams.
Select the video you’d like to watch to get started.
Introduction to Safer Seniors
Resources Part 1
Mental Health Part 1
The Lifebox
Relationship Rights
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