Identity theft is a serious problem for everyone, but older adults are especially at risk of being scammed. Older adults are often more susceptible to identity theft scams because they may have memory issues like dementia, or if they do not check their credit statements regularly. Identity thieves may also try to steal the identity of their deceased spouses. Since older adults are more vulnerable to these scams, it is vital to learn tips about identity theft protection to help prevent your loved ones from being scammed.
Remind Your Loved Ones to Destroy Personal Documents
Personal documents can contain a lot of private and sensitive information like social security numbers or banking information. Throwing away these documents without destroying them properly can cause them to fall into the hands of identity thieves, who may use them to commit fraud and other crimes. Make sure to remind your loved ones to always dispose of their personal documents properly by shredding or removing any legible traces of their private information.
Check Financial Status and Bank Statement Regularly
Try to monitor your loved ones’ financial activity and their credit reports regularly, and be alert to any suspicious financial transactions. Many scams come in the form of email or credit card scams, so keeping track of your loved ones’ financial activity is helpful to detecting fraudulent activity before it becomes too severe. During your conversations with your loved ones, you can also ask them if they have received any suspicious phone calls or emails. Some older adults may feel annoyed at these questions because they don’t believe they will fall for such scams, but you can gently remind them that scams are often designed to not seem like scams.
Hire Reliable and Trusted Caregivers
Identity thieves are not always strangers and some of the closest people around you can turn out to be the culprits. In senior identity theft, the culprits are often the caregivers because they have easy access to your loved ones’ personal documents, credit cards, and other sensitive information. They can also get away with stealing such documents because they have gained the trust of your loved ones. Thus, it is important to conduct extensive interviews, review their resumes in detail, and consider background checks to check their references before hiring caregivers. Trustworthy and reliable caregivers are a key to preventing identity theft for seniors.
Update List of Common Scams
Scams are constantly evolving, and identity thieves employ different tactics to trick older adults. Inform your loved ones about the common types of scams that they might receive, including emails or phone calls that claim they have won a prize. Also, try to keep your loved ones updated with a list of common scams so that they can be more alert to possibly fraudulent interactions.
Rittenhouse Village At Portage is Your Reliable Senior Living Community
We understand that choosing a senior living community is a big step for you and your loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that the process is easy and smooth for you. Rittenhouse Village At Portage is secure and reliable, with a professional team with years of experience. We are well-trusted by our residents to provide personalized services that enable residents to lead independent and fun lives.
