The Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s Blog

Elderly Victims of Fraudulent Schemes

I recently read an article in the June 17th Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal citing a growing trend of scammers taking advantage of elderly Americans via increasingly sophisticated telemarketing and mailing schemes. Lonely, isolated older Americans, often home alone, are an easy prey and tend to be eager to please the “friendly” telemarketer on the other end of the phone or respond to schemes introduced to them through a seemingly valid offer in the mail. Here are a few guidelines to help someone you feel may be a target of scams: Sign them up for the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov. Prepare a short script stationed by the phone for answering telemarketer’s persistent demands. Have their mail forwarded to your address to vet out any suspicious claims, gather together the items, put them in an envelope marked “Forward to Postal Inspector – suspected mail fraud” and put them in your mailbox (no postage is necessary). The AARP Foundation offers advice and support via its Fraud Fighter Call Center at 1-800-646-2283. Help your loved one find other activities to fill their time. Be patient. It takes time for behaviors to change and their pride is often hurt by thoughts that they were a victim.