Seniors For Living

Medicare fraud, group and individual investment schemes, identity theft cases, counterfeit prescription drug sales. These are a few of the scams targeting today’s seniors; this page from the FBI website outlines each one in detail.

Getting to know what’s out there is the best first step seniors and their caregivers can take in the fight against fraud. Once you know what to look for, you can be better prepared should a scam artist emerge, seeking confidential information, funds, or other personal data for the purposes of harm, not good. You will also be on guard, watching for warning signs and red flags instead of taking at face value every offer or request that comes your way.

This time of year is particularly saturated with opportunities for scammers, as charity organizations solicit frequently for year-end donations, as online shoppers browse for great gift deals 24-7, and as the holiday stress causes many of us to let down our guard.

Given the gravity of the issue, today’s live #ElderCareChat discussion on Twitter (join us at 1pm ET; use the hashtag #eldercarechat to participate) will be focused on scam prevention tips.

Consider these web-based resources too:

• AARP’s Fighting Financial Fraud Toolkit
• The New York Times’ New Old Age blog: On the Alert for Fraud
• The CFP Board’s Consumer Guide to Financial Self-Defense
• Stop Senior Scam’s Helpful Resources