Scam artists are known to target the most vulnerable, and this is why many seniors are at risk. Fraudsters can manipulate seniors into believing outlandish stories.

Common scams involve claims that a loved one is in trouble and may get arrested, and many elderly individuals offer confidential information and payments to the scammers to protect the family. By learning better ways to protect the elderly from scams, families can lower their risks and prevent serious financial losses. 

Opt-Out of Mail Solicitations

If the senior ends up on a mail solicitation list, the family can take steps to get their name and contact information off the list. The senior can contact the post office to prevent any mail advertisements from ending up in their mailbox.

If the individual has been diagnosed with dementia and needs memory care services, the family must take steps to prevent the senior from providing confidential information to mail scammers. There are also websites that help individuals remove their names from these lists. 

Set Up Respite Care When Possible

Family members that are trying to take care of an elderly loved one on their own need a break sometimes. Whether the reason is just to recuperate from months of managing care for a loved one with dementia or to take a short vacation, respite care is essential for looking out for the elderly family member. With the care services, the senior stays in the community and in a safer environment. The family won’t have to worry about scammers getting access to the senior or defrauding the loved one. 

Apply A Spending Limit On Bank Accounts

A spending limit on bank accounts and credit cards can prevent scammers from taking all the elderly person’s money. While this can manage issues in the short term, the senior must request changes to the account if the person gave out credit or banking information to a scammer. The bank or credit card company can cancel debit or credit cards to prevent the criminal from accessing any further funds from these accounts. 

Manage Accounts for the Elderly Loved one

A family member who is managing the senior’s finances will prevent scammers from getting the information. Since the resident doesn’t have access to any of these confidential details, a scammer cannot collect information to steal from the person. All bank statements will go to the family member with the power of attorney instead of the senior. 

Restrict Smartphone Calls

All smartphones have settings that can prevent anyone from calling the senior that isn’t on their contact list. The feature is beneficial when trying to stop robocalls and prevent scammers from contacting the resident. Since many seniors don’t know how to use advanced smartphone features, the family won’t have to worry that the person will change the setting. 

Wonderful Homes for Seniors

At Gardens of Sun City, we offer beautiful apartments for seniors and provide better protection against scam artists. Our community has security and amenities that keep elderly residents safe and away from criminals. Families and seniors can find out more about our community by setting up private tours of the community now. 

Scams and fraudsters take advantage of seniors because the individuals are likely to believe impossible stories and narratives. The scams involve contacting the elderly parties and finding a way to coerce the person into providing direct access to bank information or credit card accounts. The criminals may also try to visit the residents in person to get cash on hand and confidential details based on complete lies.  

By living in a senior community, residents have more security around the property to prevent unauthorized guests from coming to the residence. All mailboxes are locked and require a key to open, and the criminals cannot steal benefit checks or banking statements from the mailboxes. Seniors who live in the communities are safer and less likely to encounter scam artists in person. By learning how the residents can avoid scams, families can rest assured that their elderly loved ones are safe.