Reduce Your Risk of Being Scammed

By Kirk Brechbiel

There was a recent story in the news about a couple in their 80s who had been scammed out of their life savings. Over a period of time, the couple had been bilked out of more than $100,000 through what is often called the Granny Scam.

Scammers using the Granny Scam often target seniors with calls that wake them up in the middle of the night posing as a grandson or granddaughter in trouble. A common ploy is for the scammer to say they are in trouble because they were stopped and arrested for drunk driving. They need to have money wired to them.

This is just one example of the multitude of scams targeted at seniors.

Here are some tips about what you can do to protect yourself or a loved one:

• If someone is calling you asking for money, whether a stranger or someone you supposedly know, do not agree to the request while you are on the phone. Hang up the phone if it is suspicious.
• Do not give out Social Security, Medicare, credit card or banking information to someone who calls you on the phone or contacts you online.
• Do not carry around large amounts of cash.
• Do not flash money when you are out.
• Use a bank to withdraw money rather than an ATM.
• Use a fanny pack to carry around cash and credit cards, which can be much harder to steal than a purse or wallet.
• Do not provide credit card numbers on the internet unless you are making a purchase from a site you know to be legitimate and has secure encryption.
• Avoid going out alone, or shopping at night, especially when you are alone.
  

These tips should help assure that you keep your cash and your security for you and ONLY you! Don’t let your loved ones nor yourself fall victim to the nefarious elderly scams.

For more tips for seniors, go to Ella Home Care at www.ellahc.com.