People scam seniors because they are more likely to trust strangers, they may not be as savvy when it comes to online scams, and they may be more likely to fall for schemes that offer something for nothing. This means you have to educate your loved ones on what to look out for, which could be a scam. People make it their job to scam seniors out of money, and it can be terrifying. Senior home care providers can remind seniors of the potential dangers of scams.
Here are a few scams you should be aware of to help your seniors stay safe.
Beware of Social Security Scams
Senior Home Care Galion OH – A Few Scams Seniors Should AvoidIf your seniors get social security every month, they are also at risk for social security scams. This can be exceptionally dangerous for your seniors if they give out personal information. Social Security scams are when scammers try to get a person’s Social Security information by pretending to be from the Social Security Administration. The people involved in these scams can be exceptionally tricky and very intimidating and may scare your elderly loved one. If you or home care providers notice your senior giving out personal information on the phone, stop them immediately, and shut down accounts or change information.
Home Repair Scams
Another huge scam to be aware of is home repair scams. This is when a phone call is made to a potential client promising a decent home repair for a down payment. This may be something like a bathroom renovation your senior desperately needs or something else that can help a senior age in place.
Unfortunately, as soon as a senior puts money down, nothing happens. No contractors come to look at their homes, and no remodeling or renovations happen. Why is it so easy to target seniors? This is something a senior may have grown up with and is common, so they’re more trusting when these salesmen call their homes. It makes them an easy target and is something that home care needs to focus on.
Pyramid Schemes
A pyramid scheme is an illegal investment scam that promises unreasonably high returns in a short period for participants who recruit others into the scheme. Sometimes it’s someone they know trying to get them involved in a business but it requires a lot of money to start. On the other hand, they may say it’s a good job for someone retired or a hobby a senior can do. Either way, it is something that should be avoided at all costs.
Pretending to be a Friend
Something that happens often is one person your senior may know gets hacked, and then the scammer pretends to be a senior’s friend. This scammer will then tell your loved one they need to buy gift cards or send some money over. Your senior may fall for it because the scammer uses their friend’s name. You can help your seniors filter through emails. You can sometimes identify them because they have misspellings or use a similar email address but not the actual email address of the seniors’ friends. It’s crucial to stay vigilant and help your seniors stay safe.
If you are considering hiring Senior Home Care Services in Galion OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Ontario, Bucyrus, Mt. Vernon, Marion, Willard, and the surrounding areas.
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