How to Help Senior Adults Avoid Scams

Written by Horace Kerr

Fifty-six percent of scam victims are senior adults. If this statistic does not already include members of your church, your seniors are at least likely targets.

Senior adults are susceptible because they are generally more trusting, considerate of others, sympathetic, and maybe more importantly, they are available and have discretionary money. Scam artists are skilled in taking advantage of these characteristics.

Scammers may sound very legitimate. They are usually polite, friendly, personable, sincere, convincing, and controlling; formidable foes for more trusting senior adults.

Senior adult leaders can be helpful to their members in avoiding scams and in securing help if they are victims of scams. Make it your duty to become aware of possible fraudulent operations in general and in your area in particular.

Plan programs on scam protection or invite knowledgeable guests to senior adult group meetings. Consumer protection agencies such as Better Business Bureaus, state attorneys’ general offices, and local law enforcement departments may provide speakers and materials on this subject. You may gather and present information from local news, AARP, a Better Business Bureau, the state Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Federal Trade Commission, and numerous other sources.Be familiar with buzz-words which tip-off a scam:

• Free gift"
• "Pay now" (by providing a credit card or bank account number or by courier)
• "High-profit with no risk"
• "No need to check out company"
• "Don’t need written information"
• "You’ve won a prize (or trip)"

Know what the laws are regarding telemarketing. Calls must be between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. A caller must first state if the call is a sales call, identify the company, and what it is selling. A prize must be without cost or purchases. It is illegal to lie about goods/services. The caller must give total costs and tell if it is nonrefundable. Permission must be obtained to draw from an account.

Pay for services only after they are delivered. Door-to-door sales of $25 or more must provide a three-day cooling off period within which buyers may cancel the sale and have their money refunded.

Some senior adults may be reluctant to admit that they are victims of a scam. Work to build an atmosphere in which your senior adults will feel comfortable enough to discuss this with you. Urge them to report their loss to local law enforcement authorities and to take steps to recover from their loss. Credit card issuers must be informed so the victim will not have to pay more than $50 of the losses.

Reports should be made to your state Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, the Federal Trade Commission>, and your Better Business Bureau.

If someone has illegally obtained personal identity items, an alert may be placed on the victim’s credit report, prohibiting any credit charge without his or her permission. Call TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian to set up the alert.

Take the time to stay informed and alert your members to possible scams.

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