11 Ways Seniors Can Recognize and Avoid Scams

Elder abuse is a problem that has grown over the last few decades. It’s a subject for great concern and is finally starting to get the necessary recognition. The numbers of reported abuse are high – nearly 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60 have reported abuse. Yet much of the abuse goes unreported due to the victim’s personal feelings. Some studies claim that as many as 5 million older adults are abused each year. It’s not a nice feeling to discover you’ve been swindled, taken advantage of, or right-out scammed by another person. There are ways you can protect yourself and avoid many of these unpleasant situations. Check out the 11 best ways seniors can recognize a scam and disengage before it goes too far.

1) Ask for It in Writing

Those who are into scamming elderly people tend to do so over the phone or by going door-to-door. While the more personal acts of a face-to-face interaction or phone conversation can be refreshing, don’t let your guard down. First, ask for I.D. to make sure they are who they say. Then ask for proof of what they’re claiming. Request to see something in writing before agreeing to any service and especially before handing over any money. If the salesperson is unable to provide written proof of the business name, address, and telephone number then it’s probably not a good idea to trust that their offer is legitimate. Moreover, if the interaction happens over the phone, request that a letter be sent outlining what the person has just told you. If the proof isn’t promptly provided or the letter never comes, then you probably just avoided a scam.