Unfortunately, there are those out there who want to financially prey on anyone they can through phone scams. Even more despicable, they will prey on the elderly, who may not understand that it is even a scam. These types of scams come in many different forms, and they continue to get more clever in their methods as time goes on.
On the bright side, there are several pretty clear indications to show when something is a scam. These tips should be known and passed along to any elderly loved ones to help prevent them from falling victim. Check out below to find out what to know about phone scams and how to avoid them.
Posing As Other Agencies
The cornerstone of most phone scams is that they will pose as some other agency or business in an attempt to get money out of seniors. While this is a clever ruse, the reality is that these types of agencies would never contact people in the way that scammers do.
Firstly, no actual business, government department, etc will ever contact someone without solicitation in an attempt to get them to provide sensitive personal information. In addition, any claims of winning prize money, grants, etc are false if they ever try to get someone to pay anything upfront to receive their winnings.
Tech Support Scams
Since the elderly have not had the experience with technology that future generations have, they are more likely to fall victim to tech support phone scams. These can employ many methods, but the bottom line is that Microsoft, Apple, and any other tech brands or support services will not contact anyone unsolicited.
They most certainly will not call without warning to request personal information or access to someone’s computer. Seniors should never let anyone have their information or access their computers without knowing and trusting them.
Legal Trouble Claims
Some scammers will call and claim that the senior is in trouble with the law for not paying a bill or some other action. These are always false and no organization or legal entity would call in such an informal fashion. This type of scam call can be incredibly scary, but they are only trying to use fear to manipulate.
How to Report a Scam Phone Number
Many people likely wonder how to report a scam phone number, as it can be difficult to know where to report each type. When dealing with scam phone numbers, there are a couple of steps that can be taken.
Firstly, the scammer’s phone number can be blocked to ensure that they cannot contact that person anymore. Then, phone number scams can be reported to the local state consumer protection office. Finally, it should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC uses this information to track scam patterns, take legal action against scammers, and help prevent others from falling victim to the scam. If an individual feels victim to the scam and lost money or possessions, they can also report it to their local police.
Searching for Senior Living Services in Canada?
If you are looking for quality senior living options for yourself or a loved one, then let Symphony Senior Living help. We have multiple facilities across Canada that can accommodate the needs of virtually any senior citizen. If you have any questions about our facilities or services, feel free to contact us at (437) 214-1608. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing how we can help.