Summer is upon us and that means warmer temperatures, sporadic rainstorms, higher humidity and, unfortunately, it can also be a time for scammers to focus on senior adults.
One of the most common scams around this time of the year involves imposters representing lawn care or roofing businesses. After a bad storm, someone may come to your door and offer to check the roof, gutters or other areas that “may” have been damaged.
Be wary of anyone who initiates any type of repair to your home. These scammers prey on fears that there’s been significant damage to your property and ask for payment in advance to buy materials and supplies. Don’t do it. If there is damage, contact your insurance company first and then a reputable vendor. If you’re still unsure, ask a trusted family member or friend to assist.
Although not a scam, per se, I recently contacted a national company that advertises on television – and focuses on senior adults – to inspect my gutters and guards and provide a quote on how much it would cost to replace, if needed.
After a quick inspection of one section, the salesman determined I needed a complete replacement of all gutters. I got the full-court press sales presentation in my home that lasted over an hour. I immediately realized that this wasn’t for me. While not a scam, the sales tactic was very heavy handed and pressure filled, and the cost was outrageous. And when I said I couldn’t afford it, they offered a financing option with a high interest rate.
When I finally convinced the salesman that I wasn’t going to purchase the services, his mood changed drastically and he left my house abruptly. It was unsettling and made me angry thinking that this same method is practiced on vulnerable senior adults.
According to a recent story in U.S. News and World Report, some of the most common scams perpetuated against senior adults include funeral scams, grandparent scams, Social Security or IRS scams, and sweepstakes scams.
This is how a funeral scam works: After an obituary is placed in the local newspaper, a scammer might contact the deceased person’s relatives and insist that their loved one left a debt to be paid. Or a more sophisticated scammer might pretend to be someone from the funeral home and reach out after the service and say there were extra charges that haven’t been paid. If this happens, request written documentation of the expense and don’t send money until you have proof.
The Social Security Administration has an entire section of their website with information about scams, and reports there are four basic signs of a scam, no matter what type: 1) scammers impersonate an agency or organization you know to gain your trust; 2) they say there’s a problem or offer a prize; 3) pressure you to act immediately, and 4) will insist on making payment in a specific way.
It’s not uncommon for Social Security employees to contact the public by telephone for business purposes, such as when a person recently applied for benefits; are already receiving payments and require an update to their record; or have requested a phone call from the agency. If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, Social Security will typically mail a letter.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with the Social Security Administration reported that a new scam against seniors is criminals pretending to be government agents that are requesting payments be made in person, either by cash or gift card. SSA OIG agents will never collect money at your door or in any type of exchange. This new scam also opens the door for an element of physical danger to scams that never existed before.
AARP publishes a Scam Prevention Guide annually to address the number of ways that seniors are prey to scammers and how to protect your money, belongings and person. The 2024 Guide reports that scammers are getting more sophisticated when dealing with seniors, especially when it involves grandchildren.
It’s not enough that imposters pretending to be a grandchild will call “their” grandparent to report they’re in trouble and need money immediately. AARP reports that scammers have advanced to having a group of people involved in the scam – calling the senior, offering to come and get the money and even creating call centers to appear to be legitimate.
For those of us that work with seniors, live with seniors, or are fortunate enough to still have our parents or grandparents in our lives, we must be aware and proactive advocates to ensure they’re not scammed or abused.
Programs such as the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Adult Protective Services and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at GRADD are local resources to report scams and/or get more information. Contact GRADD at (270) 926-4433 and DCBS at (270) 687-7491.
If you believe you’ve been scammed, stop talking to the scammer immediately and notify your bank/financial institutions to safeguard your account. You can also call the police and file a police report. Report Social Security-related scams to SSA OIG (oig.ssa.gov). Keep financial transaction information and the record of all communications with the scammer. OL
