Elder Fraud
Through Education & Local Advocacy
COMBATTING
SPOT THE SCAM - TAKE ACTION - TAKE CONTROL
In the five-year period ending December 31, 2020, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Fraud Hotline received more than 8,000 complaints nationwide. [www.ncoa.org]
The scams outlined below are all included in the top 5 scams that made up more than 65% of the above-mentioned complaints. [2021 Elder Fraud Report]
TOP 3 SCAMS TO 'SPOT'
1. Medicare
Telemarketing Scams
Beware of fraudulent callers pretending to represent Medicare! [www.ncoa.org]
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Be wary of anyone claiming to represent Medicare calling you uninvited and asking you for personal or private information.
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Medicare will NEVER call you unsolicited!
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Don’t participate in any calls requesting health insurance information you didn’t initiate.
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Beware of being asked to provide your Medicare card or Social Security Information on the phone.
2. Financial
Fraud Scams
$2.9 billion is lost annually due to senior-specific financial fraud alone! [Met-Life]
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You receive calls from unknown numbers claiming to be representatives of a bank or a government agency like Medicare.
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You find medical or supply charges on your account statements that you do not recognize.
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You receive bills for medical treatments you never had or you suddenly stop receiving bank or medical statements.
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A caregiver is contacted by a ‘collection agency’ seeking to collect on debts created in your name, without your permission.
3. Identity
Theft Scams
In 2022 there were 4,825 senior victims of identity theft! [FBI Elder Fraud Report]
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Be alert if you find charges on your account statements that you do not recognize.
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Be alert if you receive bills for medical treatments you never had.
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Be careful if your mail is missing. For example, you suddenly stop receiving your bank or medical statements.
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Beware if you are a caregiver and receive phone calls or mail from collection agencies seeking to collect on debts created in the senior person’s name, without their permission.