Skip to main content

How to Identify and Guard Against Coronavirus Scams Targeting Seniors

COVID-19 is scary enough for older adults, being in a demographic who is at higher risk of developing more serious complications from the disease. During the upheaval and anxiety of this global pandemic, they also need to be wary of the new wave of criminals who are targeting seniors with coronavirus-themed scams and fraud.  

As in other crises, con artists try to capitalize on people’s fears and hopes. For example, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued warnings to companies touting products like essential oils, teas and colloidal silver as treatments or cures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is yet no known drugs or cures for coronavirus.  

Seniors are easy victims for scams because they are often isolated, lonely and tend to be trusting. Many seniors also suffer from memory loss or dementia which leaves them even more vulnerable to scams. Seniors are often a big target because they are thought to have substantial amounts of money in their accounts, but even those on a fixed income are targeted. Here’s a short list of the most prevalent scams happening in-person or by phone, text, email and social media, along with some general tips for avoiding them: 

Test Scam: Seniors may get a call, email or a door-to-door solicitor Someone may approach senior or senior may get a call with an offer for a COVID-19 test. Do not provide your Medicare number to anyone and hang up on robocallers offering a special virus kit or a free test. 

Grocery Scam: A stranger approaches senior inside a store with an offer to shop and deliver groceries. The stranger does not deliver after asking the senior for money and home address. The stranger knows where the senior lives. 

Counterfeit Scam: The fraudster will pitch counterfeit versions of items that are in high demand, such as N95 masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting solutions. Scammers also tout fake supplements, lotions and drinks, as well as faith-based products. 

 

 

Phishing Scam: The senior may receive spoof emails which are messages with a forged sender address designed to mislead the recipient about the origin of the message. The spoof (phishing) email may impersonate government agencies like the FDA and health organizations like the CDC with offers of “just announced” cures or vaccines. 

Another type of phishing scam makes the claim that seniors can receive “virus outbreak” money by providing their social security number and bank information. Anyone who emails, texts or calls saying “you can get your government money now” is a scammer. Do not reply to any of these communications. 

Charity Scam: Seniors are being asked to donate money to a fake charity offering to provide medical supplies, products or other items that detect, prevent or cure coronavirus. Closely related is the investment scam asking seniors to invest in companies hawking Covid-19 tests or cures and claiming to be immune from any potential market crash. 

Cleaning Scam: A caller or a door-to-door solicitor offers to clean and sanitize seniors’ homes. The senior may have their personal or financial information stolen when asked to make a prepayment over the phone or might be physically harmed or victimized after allowing the solicitor to come inside. 

How to Protect Yourself or a Senior You Love 

You can protect yourself or a senior loved one from becoming a victim of scammers taking advantage of coronavirus fears by fact-checking information from legitimate sources like What is the Federal Government Doing, the FCC site Covid-19 Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips, Snopes’ special The Coronavirus Collection, and the National Consumers League’s Fraud project. 

If You Suspect You or a Loved One Have Been the Victim of a Scam 

Don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk to someone you trust. You are not alone, and people will help you. You are encouraged to reach out to your trusted Amada senior advisor whenever you have a question about scams or feel you might have been victimized by a scammer. Even if you’re not a current client, we are happy to help. Call us toll-free at 1-877-442-6232 or email info@AmadaSeniorCare.com. 

Here are other ways to get help: 

  • File a report with your local police department and keep a copy of the report on file. 
  • Contact the IRS’s Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. 
  • Call the Eldercare Locator for an Adult Protective Service location close to you at 1-800-677-1116. 
  • File an identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 
  • Follow these directions from the IRS on what forms to fill out for reporting suspected tax fraud activity. 

 

“How to Identify and Guard Against Coronavirus Scams Targeting Seniors,” by Michelle Flores, Amada Blog Contributor. 

The post How to Identify and Guard Against Coronavirus Scams Targeting Seniors appeared first on Amada Senior Care.



from Amada Senior Care https://ift.tt/2LQPedR
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dads and Pops: Your Good Health Matters to Us 

Did you know  June is  Men’s Health Month  and Father’s Day anchors Men’s Health Week ?   Celebrate dad on Father’s Day and thank him for all he  has  done, but  also  make sure to seize an opportunity sometime this month to have a conversation with him about his health. This awareness campaign has the critical purpose of informing men   that avoiding preventive healthcare puts them at real and serious risk of  contracting a disease or  acquiring  a chronic condition.   Studies consistently  show the numbers go against men , particularly as they advance into their senior years.   Even with dramatic advances in diagnosis and treatment over the past 100 years, men’s life expectancy still lags significantly behind women. According to  Harvard Health ,  the gap is widening. In 1900, the life expectancy for women was 48.3 years vs. 46.3 for men. In 2017, it was 81.1 years for women vs. 76.1 for men. Harvard...
Post a Comment
Read more

Memorize These Six Signs of a Scam

An 88-year-old woman is one of the latest victims of the sweepstakes scam. She lost $160,000 in order to get the millions the scammer claimed she’d won through the Publishers Clearing House. She’s not alone. This scam has been around for years and has affected tens of thousands. Be aware of the six signs of a scam to avoid losing money. The Caller Insists You Not Tell Anyone In a scam, the caller will insist that you cannot tell anyone. This is more likely to happen with the grandparent scam. The caller will say that the grandchild’s parents cannot know. Secrecy is important to the “grandchild.” If your parents are told not to tell anyone, it’s very likely a scam. Your parents should immediately report the scam to local authorities or the FTC at 1-877-382-4357. The Contact Arrives Out of the Blue A scam is going to start with a random call, email, or unsolicited mailer. Your parents didn’t enter a contest. It could be a scammer posing as a police officer, IRS representative, or ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to prepare for eldercare medical emergencies

Older adults are fragile and that is often accompanied by a decline in mobility. This makes them more vulnerable to medical emergencies such as a fall or sudden illness. As these health crises are unexpected and the elderly cannot always take prompt action, you need to be prepared. This will result in saving a lot of crucial moments and getting on-time care for the older adult. We have curated pointers that will give you an insight on how to carefully prepare for the eldercare emergencies and ensure the wellbeing of your elderly.   Doctor on Call  As you begin preparing for the eldercare emergencies, you must assemble a list of doctors and home nursing services that will be available 24×7 to provide emergency facilities. The list will come handy and will result in taking quick action. Samvedna Senior Care offers doctor visits at home for senior citizens in times of emergency. The team of skilled doctors is available round the clock to provide special assistance. The...
Post a Comment
Read more