The DeAngelis Center Foundation is creating this resource for our senior friends. In this digital world, technology moves quickly and not everyone has the same technical ability and knowledge. Our seniors are often targeted by scammers and we need to give them information and resources as well as assist and protect them together. We hope you’ll review these and share them with any of your senior friends!
Let’s start with this presentation from our friends at the FBI:
Here’s a copy of this presentation: Elder Fraud Presentation
If you’ve been scammed, please report it! Do not be embarrassed, it happens to a lot of people. By reporting the crime, you can help with prevention and taking care of others before it happens to them!
How to avoid scams:
- Do your own research and conduct independent verification
- Protect your personal and financial information
- Manage your phone calls (if you don’t know the caller, let it go to voicemail)
- Avoid contact with any unknown entities (it’s OK to be skeptical or rude)
- Don’t rush to act (THINK!) and talk to others
- Consider unusual payment options a “red flag”
- Be cautious if you are asked to send cryptocurrency
- Does it sound too good to be true?
- Actively seek information about trending scams/fraud
- Report to the authorities!
As noted, the following are the most common reports from our senior community in Colorado:
- Imposter Business
- Identity Theft
- Tech Support/Computer Virus
- Home Repair/Improvement
- Online Dating/Romance
- Imposter Government (SSA, IRS)
- Fraudulent Sales
- Sweepstakes/Prize/Lottery
- Phishing
- Non-Stranger Exploitation
Keep your personal and financial information private!
If you haven’t called a company directly, do not give your information over the phone.
Verify the company by using a statement you’ve received previously and call the number on your statement.
If you don’t know the number calling you, do not answer! Let the call go to voicemail and only return calls from people you know. Even if your Caller ID shows that Company X is calling, it may not be true! Even if the voice mail says they are calling Company X, that may not be true! Investigate before you ever give out any information and call companies back at the numbers they give you on your monthly statements!
What’s New or Trending:
- More aggressive, posing as Norton/McAfee, sending false invoices, greater focus on accessing bank accounts once remote on your computer, attempts to take over phones/other devices
Recognize:
- Unsolicited calls and pop-windows informing you of a computer virus
- Ask for payment and/or access to your computer
Refuse:
- Microsoft or any other major computer company is not going to call you
- Hang up/shut down your computer/contact trusted support
- Avoid future attempts at contact
Report:
- FTC, AG, AARP, ic3.gov, etc.
Red Flags:
- Asking you to start communicating in another way, What’s App or a different social media method.
- Asking for gift cards.
- Asking for money to be sent.
- Pushing you to act quickly.
If you have additional questions, please contact us! If we don’t know the answers, we’ll get the answers for you!
Special thanks to the FBI for assisting us with resources and information to share!
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/elderwatch/
https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice
https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/tax-fraud-alerts
AARP ElderWatch – 800-222-4444, Option 2
More on managing phone calls:
- If you don’t know the caller, don’t answer the phone and let it go to voicemail.
- Even if the Caller ID shows a name or company you know, it may not be that person or company due to phone number spoofing.
- If you get a call from your utility company, television provider, or any other company you do business with, do not give any information over the phone if you are not waiting for a call back from them. Hang up and call the number provided from one of your past invoices.
- Social security and the IRS will not call you.
How to avoid online scams:
- Only interact with people you know face to face in real life.
- Don’t share content from groups, pages, or people you don’t know on social media platforms.
- Be very cautious interacting with content received via email and check the email address domain name.
If you receive a phone call or email you are unsure of and need assistance, check in with one of the trusted resources we’ve provided for you above. If you have additional questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to email us at admin@deangeliscenter.org. We’re always happy to help keep you safe and/or find resources for you.
