It seems as though scammers are targeting older adults wherever they can – often creating elaborate mail, email and Internet, and telephone strategies.
That’s why it’s important for seniors to know how to spot a potential scam. Following are checklists for mail, telephone and computer that can help protect an older adult:
- Consider a second set of eyes to look over bill payments and mail.
- Don’t send any personal information – Social Security or Social Insurance number, bank and credit card account numbers, phone numbers or address – through the mail to anyone who you don’t know, no matter what they’ve offered or promised.
- Never respond to a sweepstakes letter by sending a check to claim a prize.
- Only send checks to charities with which you are familiar and that have been cleared through a second source such as the Better Business Bureau or Canadian Council for Better Business Bureaus.
- Don’t respond to requests to send a “deposit” to “get started” with a work-at-home offer or a pyramid scheme.
- If you continue to get mail that is obviously a scam, take it to your local post office and the mail will be forwarded to the Postal Inspector.
- Buy and install a locking mailbox, or set up a P.O. box.
- Don’t leave bill payment envelopes in your unsecured mailbox for pickup – take them to a postal mailbox.
- If you’re getting unnecessary mail, contact the sender and ask to have your name removed from the mailing list. To cut down on the volume of unwanted bulk mail, get off as many national mailing lists as possible.
- Know when bank statements, credit card statements and pension payments are supposed to arrive each month. Consider getting statements online.
CLICK HERE to ~ Download the Anatomy of a Scam Senior Mail Checklist
