Every day, older adults fall for scams. Elder fraud leads to more than $3 billion in losses each year. Your parents could be a victim, and you wouldn’t know it until it was too late to stop them from losing money. Some of the most common scams are government impersonations, grandparent scams, home repair, lotteries/sweepstakes, romance scams, and tech support scams. You need to make sure your parents know about these scams and take appropriate action if someone attempts to defraud them. Having elder care services providers on hand to keep that from happening might be a good idea.
How These Scams Work
With a scam, the caller poses as someone that your parents are bound to trust. With a tech support scam, the caller pretends to be from a big computer company, such as Dell and says your parents’ computer has a virus. The caller says they can remove the virus if your parents do the following things. In the process, they could be installing malware or asked to give credit card information to pay for the repair.
A sweepstakes or lottery scam always starts with a notification that your parents have won money. To claim their prize, they must pay a fee. There are also government impersonations where your parents are told they’re about to be arrested or penalized by a government agency if they don’t pay the due money.
Grandparent scams are very convincing, so your parents need to know to hang up and call the grandchild or the child’s parents to confirm details. The caller pretends to be the grandchild, a police officer, a lawyer, or a doctor during these calls. The child is in trouble or hurt, and your mom and dad must send money immediately to help the child avoid jail or get urgent medical treatment.
Finally, a home repair scam is often started by a visit to your parents’ home. A contractor stops by and claims to have just worked on a home in the area. While driving by, the contractor noticed your parents’ house needs some repair, such as a new roof. The contractor offers to do it for a discount if your mom and dad pay a hefty deposit before the work begins. The contractor takes the money and disappears.
Prevent Loneliness That Tempts Your Parents Into Answering the Phone
Have you ever asked your parents why they keep answering the phone? Most people don’t answer the phone if they don’t recognize the number. Your mom and dad may be answering the phone to talk to someone. Loneliness is often a factor that can lead to an older adult falling for a scam.
If You Hire Elder Care Aides to Help Your Parents, They Will Enjoy Having Company Each Week.
It helps reduce the chances of loneliness and isolation. Plus, the caregiver is in the house and can help your parents understand when a caller is trying to scam them. Call an elder care agency to learn more about companionship services.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable Caregivers in Hoschton, GA, and the surrounding areas.
Call (770) 965.4004 for more information.
We provide home care in Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Oakwood, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Barrow County, Forsyth County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Jackson County, North Fulton County.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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