by Peg Cochran,
Marketing Communications Manager, Holland Home
More than ever before, it is important to protect yourself from identity theft. Individuals looking to steal or scam often like to target older adults. Why? In general, people who grew up between 1930 and 1950, were raised to be polite and trusting. They are less likely to hang up the phone than someone younger, and it is often presumed they have a hefty nest egg. And many times, older adults don’t report crimes, either because they don’t know who to call or out of embarrassment at being tricked.
How can you protect yourself? Being aware is key. The crimes outlined in this article happen over the telephone. However, it’s important to be on alert for anything that feels out of the ordinary over email or online.
The Grandparent Scam
Imagine picking up your telephone to hear someone say, “Grandma, guess who this is?” Your natural inclination would be to answer with the name of one of your grandchildren. But by doing so, you’ve just given the scammer on the other end of the line some very valuable and personal information. Generally, the scammer, now posing as the grandchild you just named, goes on to ask for money for some reason—they’ve borrowed from a friend and need to repay the loan, they’ve overdrawn their checking account or something else that will play on your sympathy. And they usually ask that you keep it confidential from their parents who might be angry or disappointed with them. You are then instructed, by your bogus grandchild, to send the money via a wire transfer service.
The Fake Accident Ploy
Again, in this scam you are contacted by phone, only this time the person calling claims to be contacting you on behalf of a relative who has been in an accident or is in the hospital and needs cash immediately. You are asked to send or wire money for that person, but there hasn’t been an accident and the money is going to wind up in the hands of the scam artist.
Charity Scams
Many phone scammers will call posing as a charitable organization. Some callers claim to be collecting money on behalf of the local police or fire department, or for veterans and military families. It’s natural to want to support these causes, but before you give a donation over the telephone, call the organization itself to verify that the call is legitimate.
Callers may trick you by thanking you for your pledge to donate—a pledge you don’t remember making. Don’t fall for it. If you can’t remember making the pledge, you most likely never did.
Be wary of charities that spring up after a natural disaster such as a hurricane, an earthquake or some cause that is currently in the news. Even if the organization is legitimately trying to raise money for those affected by the disaster, they often lack the infrastructure necessary to get the money to those in need. Instead, donate to organizations that have a solid track record like the American Red Cross.
Tips on how you can protect yourself from someone posing as a charity:
- Ask the caller if they are a paid fundraiser and if so, how much of your dollar will actually go to help those in need.
- Do your research and verify that the charity is legitimate before sending a check.
- Don’t ever give your banking or credit card information to someone over the phone or email.
- Make an annual donation plan and stick with it. Don’t allow a caller to pressure you into making a donation you hadn’t planned on.
- You can check the legitimacy of organizations, as well as how their money is spent by going to an online site such as guidestar.org.
And, if anything feels unusual or suspect, hang up!
