The most common scams targeting seniors involve health and financial fraud. In the U.S., these two types of scams have become more common as seniors continue to be attractive targets for criminals. Seniors may be more likely to fall victim to fraud because they may have accumulated significant assets or savings over their lives, making them desirable targets for scammers looking for quick access to money. They also tend not to understand technology as well as younger generations, making it easier for con artists who use the internet or phone scams targeting seniors. Protect your financial health and wellness by learning about the most common scams targeting seniors.
We want our residents to enjoy the best of senior living at Buckner Calder Woods. Our comfortable, spacious accommodations and luxurious amenities make our senior community one of the top choices for senior living in Texas. We also want to ensure that our residents are healthy and happy, so we stay informed on the latest scams targeting seniors, such as the Frontier email scams. If you have questions about suspicious emails or phone calls asking you for your banking details or personal information, reach out to us at 409.407.7636 for guidance.
The Most Common Scams Targeting Seniors
There are several types of scams targeting seniors. Some scammers make phone calls, while others try to reach their targets through emails. These calls and emails are designed to appear as though they are coming from a trusted organization. Email and phone scams targeting seniors tend to involve asking for one or more of the following:
- Your credit card number, expiration date, and CVV number
- Your bank account and routing numbers
- Your social security number and date of birth
Most of these scams make you feel that you must urgently respond and provide the requested details. Some may convince you that you need whatever services they are selling, then ask for your payment details but never deliver the services for which you paid. The caller may have you believe that they will disconnect essential services, such as your electricity or internet if you do not make payment on the spot.
Common Phone and Email Scams
Here are a few different types of common scams targeting seniors:
- Medicare/health insurance scams – You may receive a call or email claiming to offer you a better health insurance policy than you currently have with Medicare or another provider.
- Fake charities – You may receive a call claiming to be a charity and asking for you to make a donation by credit card or bank transfer over the phone.
- Homeowner/reverse mortgage scams – You may receive a call or email claiming that you can receive costly home repairs or a reverse mortgage for a low price, but they require you to pay an upfront fee.
- IRS impersonation – During tax season, you may receive a call claiming that you owe back taxes and must pay over the phone immediately or risk a hefty fine or jail time.
- Utility company impersonation – You may receive a call from someone posing as an employee of your cable, internet, electric, or gas company. They may insist you are late on payments and need to make an immediate payment over the phone to avoid having your services disconnected. The Frontier email scams are a perfect example of this type of scam.
The emails and phone calls from the scammers can be very convincing and may make you nervous that you will suffer consequences if you do not pay immediately. Never feel pressured to make an urgent payment or give personal information over the phone or through email. Always reach out to a trusted loved one who can help you investigate whether someone is trying to scam you.
Buckner Calder Woods: Keeping You Aware of Scams Targeting Seniors
The best way to protect yourself from scams targeting seniors is to educate yourself about the most common scams and be vigilant about any suspicious activity. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to a scam, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can also contact Buckner Calder Woods at 409.407.7636 to help connect you to the correct authority to report a scam.