Older Adults are Frequently Targeted by Scammers

The Federal Trade Commission reported in 2023, adults in the U.S. lost a record $10 billion to fraud. They want us to remember scammers are skilled and persuasive, and use tactics designed to catch us off guard.

A common scam is to phone older adults and pretend to be from organizations like the IRS, Social Security Administration or Medicare. During the call, they ask for personal information, and if the person is reluctant to give it, they threaten to cut off benefits. Once they have your information, they use it to commit identity theft.

Be wary of calls from someone who claims you have won a lottery or prize and the only hitch is you need to send money or gift cards to cover taxes and processing fees. Also, don’t be taken in by a popular scam claiming your computer is compromised and you need to pay them to fix it. Especially targeted at seniors is a caller pretending to be a grandchild or relative (or their friend) pleading for money to be wired to get out of jail or other types of trouble.

To protect yourself, change your passwords often and make sure they are complicated. Use two-step verifications when you have the option. Be careful of giving out any information over the phone, in emails or through texts. Avoid transferring money or purchasing gift cards over the phone. Experts say once you complete such a transaction, the money is typically unrecoverable. Finally, if you are targeted by a scam, notify your local police department or reach out to the National Elder Fraud Hotline.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek,memory care we provide compassionate, individualized care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other memory loss diseases. As dementia care specialists, we provide support to our residents and their families with an array of services, wellness programs and activities essential to quality of life. Contact us or visit our website for more information about trusted dementia care in Colorado Springs.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to value, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care in Pueblo Co.