By Frances Maguire Paist

In a recent study funded by the National Institute on Aging, neuropsychologist Dr. Stacey Wood and her counterpart, Dr. Mike Kisley, found that older people are less likely to be responsive to negative or unpleasant information. While that makes them happier people overall, it also makes them more susceptible to elder fraud.

Happier…and More Prone to Fraud?

So what happens as we age? A natural decline in mental sharpness may cause senior adults to accept new ideas more willingly. Accompanied by a reduction in the size of their social groups and a resulting loss in the numbers of people who might help them “see the light,” they become like innocent children, simply accepting information without questioning it.

With elder fraud amounting to a staggering $40 billion annually in the United States alone, studies conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons show that most victims simply don’t make the connection between illegal telemarketing and criminal activity. There is a lack of understanding that the person on the other end of the phone is a thief whose weapon is a phone.

Put yourself in their shoes. Many elders aren’t just alone, they’re lonely. A phone call in the evening (carefully planned that way by telemarketers who know seniors are most vulnerable then) is someone with whom your loved one can have a conversation. (Not only that, but many older Americans simply won’t hang up on someone, believing it’s rude.) Telemarketers, trained to be friendly and forthcoming, provide entertainment and a connection to something that’s missing in the older person’s life. How can you tell if your loved ones is a victim of fraud (or targeted to be)? Be on the lookout for:

• An inordinate amount of junk mail for contests, free trips, prizes, and sweepstakes
• Frequent calls from strangers offering awards, money-making opportunities, or charitable donations
• Large payments/checks to out-of-state companies to your loved one
• Payments/checks picked up at your loved one’s home by courier services
• Calls offering a recovery of money paid out to telemarketers

Phishy Business

Unfortunately a large number of scams exist that target older adults, including:

• Internet auctions (Be sure to use trusted online auction Websites, such as eBay.)
• “Phishing”, where telemarketers ask to update information that includes credit card and Social Security numbers
• Foreign money offers where a “foreign official” promises to split a large sum of money if it can first be deposited into the elder’s account
• Sweepstakes
• Charity fraud
• Foreign lotteries
• Work-at-home scams

Cease & Desist

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your elders against telemarketers is to enter your phone number in the National Do Not Call Registry. Doing this gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls. Once entered, most telemarketers should stop calling within 30 days. Those that might still call and are legally allowed to do so are those calling on behalf of a political organization or charity and those who are telephone surveyors. Calls from companies with whom you already have an existing relationship and those to whom you have given written consent to call may also still be in touch. The registration is free and lasts for five years.

Additionally, encourage your elders to try and see who’s at the door before answering.  Ask your loved one to always look through a peephole or window to try and see the person, ask for a name and proof of the company with whom they work, and identification to be shown before the door is opened.

Simple Protections

Ensure that locks, windows, and doors in your loved one’s home are strong and can’t be easily broken. A security alarm is a good investment. Mark valuable property with identification such as a driver license number, and keep a list of valuable items. Particularly precious items should be photographed and kept in a separate place such as a safety deposit box. Do not keep a lot of cash around the house. Finally, make it very clear that social security, bank account, and credit card numbers should never be provided over the phone or to any stranger.

Aging may be coupled with a seeming return to innocence and a tendency to trust even when it’s risky. It is incumbent upon caregivers to help older relatives and friends age safely. Help them cope. Stay in touch. And set a good example.