It's Scamming Season!
Dear Caregivers,
During this recent political primary season you were likely to be inundated with phone calls or voice mails, emails, and texts from various people asking you to get involved, give your support, to take action, and so on. It can all be a little annoying, but when a random communication contains a hidden outreach from a scammer, it can be potentially devastating.
It may be as innocent as asking for you to take a survey by clicking on a link, or asking you to give your credit card number or other personal information such as your or your loved one’s Social Security number, in order to “check their records.” Scammers often prey on the elderly, because they may be less familiar with technology, perhaps, and susceptible to getting into trouble when they are only trying to be gracious and to “help out” someone in need.
If you get such a call, email, or text, please do what I do: Take a deep breath, and pause—and then stop: Don’t give anyone who is calling, emailing, or texting any personal information about you or your loved one, and don’t click on any links that might be in the message.
Rather, gather information from the caller, or examine the email or text, and find out which organization they represent. And then hang up, close the email, or erase the text.
If you are actually interested in responding or finding out more about what you were contacted about, look up the organization’s contact information and call them back at the number you found listed (not the number the person who reached out might have given you!). Also, as best you can, monitor your loved one to make sure they do not fall victim to such schemes, and if you manage their finances, make sure their information is protected.
It’s a shame that in our modern times of high-tech communication, the mere act of being polite and helping others may put you in a hazardous situation. But it’s still possible to have an impact in the world without losing your dignity or your principles—you just have to be on the look out. Your NAN Navigator can show you ways to be more alert.
Here is more information about how to avoid scams:
Protecting Yourself and Your Loved One Against Fraud and Scams:
It’s a sad reality that we all must be on guard every day to protect ourselves from fraud and scams. Frauds and scams come in a wide variety of flavors and trends, and can be very creative in how they draw us in. In most cases these scams prey on our fears and try to prompt us to pay out of fear. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Common Frauds and Scams:
Here is a list of common ruses that attempt to cheat you out of private information and financial assets.
Operation Senior Shield:
Operation Senior Shield is a free alert system committed to keeping Floridians alert, informed, and secure. Its mission is to empower older adults and caregivers with the knowledge they need to stay one step ahead of scammers. By signing up, you’ll receive timely updates on the latest scams targeting seniors in Florida and nationwide.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool."
— Stephen King
