Holiday Scams: What Seniors Should Look Out For

“Seniors can be much more vulnerable to financial scams and theft during the holiday season.”

Scammers and con artists are all around us lately. It seems that no matter where we turn, there’s a nefarious individual or group looking to scam everyone. To make matters worse, they’re becoming smarter in their approach. As we rely more heavily on the technology we have available, sometimes all it takes is a wrong click then suddenly our personal information and money is up for grabs.

And what’s the most wonderful time of the year for scammers? The holiday season, of course. It’s a time of giving and all-around goodwill – but all of that can make us more vulnerable to the schemes that are out there. Seniors are certainly no exception. It’s common for scammers to target seniors because they often have large nest eggs and exceptional credit scores, but little financial management. Additionally, memory issues and cognitive decline may make them more willing to give up valuable information.

Knowing what to look out for can save seniors from having their finances or even identity compromised. Below are some of the more common scams that target older adults during the holiday season. Share these with senior clients so that they can stay guarded and safely enjoy the holiday season.

Common Scams to Look Out for During the Holidays

• Fake Email Offers: Most email inboxes are full of phony promotional offers, and this certainly ramps up during the holiday season. Remember, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Scammers create emails that look legit but contain links that lead to pages requesting personal information. Seniors should look at every promotional email offer over carefully, paying close attention to the sender’s address (it should have a proprietary address such as @amazon.com or @target.com) and anything unusual like misspellings. A good rule of thumb when it comes to entering sensitive information into any website is to ensure that the URL begins with “https.” This signals that the site is secure and encrypted.
• “Emergency” Calls: This tactic, which has gained considerable traction over the last few years, involves the scammer calling a senior, claiming to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money. They often say that they’ve been arrested, in an accident, or just need emergency funds in general. Seniors who receive such calls should ask specific questions that will trip up the caller. In most cases, the scammer will not be able to answer these questions and hang up in frustration. When in doubt, the best thing to do when an unknown number pops up is to simply not answer.
• Free Gift Cards: Speaking of offers that are too good to be true, seniors may come across emails or flashy website ads that advertise free gift cards. While some companies have deals where you CAN receive gift cards after a purchase, you can safely assume the ones that say ‘free’ without purchase are entirely fake. Seniors shouldn’t click on any links or ads for these offers.
• Illegitimate Charity: It’s the season of giving, but it’s important to know exactly where your charitable donations are going. Seniors should be wary of any unfamiliar organizations or those whose appeals which are overly emotional. To confirm the legitimacy of an organization, seniors can utilize the website give.org.

Below are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:

• Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
• Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
• Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
• Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
• Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.
• Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.
• If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
• Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
• Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
• A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.

Prime Horizon Can Help

The holidays can be important for seniors and the disabled because they provide an opportunity to reconnect with family members and spend quality time together.

Protecting a loved one from scams throughout the year isn’t easy when you can’t always be there. At Prime Horizon, our compassionate caregivers can step in and provide your loved ones with the scam-prevention assistance and companionship they deserve. While serving as an extended family member, our highly trained professionals understand what’s required to maintain a client’s quality of life, along with their dignity, safety, and self-esteem.

Call Kimberly Borgenhagen at 262-235-8018 Ext. 4 to learn more about how we can help seniors and other adult clients during the holiday season.

To report elder fraud please call the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11

If you believe you or a loved one are victims of an online scam call the FBI and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement.

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