Good news first. I’ve got a secret to share.
Our protagonist, let’s call her, oh, Agnes, is no fool. She still has all her wits about her. And boy, is she glad she does!
Let’s delve into Agnes’s story, shall we?
An ordinary day, an ordinary cup of tea, a phone call – just ordinary. But the voice on the other end? A little too smooth, a little too anxious, a little too, well, scammy. Agnes, bless her heart, isn’t falling for that.
I mean, wouldn’t it be funny if Agnes, who’s been handling her affairs for longer than the scammer’s been breathing, fell for such a con?
Hilarious, I assure you. But here’s where the laughter fades – $40 billion. Yes, you read that right. A whopping $40 billion is filched from seniors every year.
But enough of that. Let’s lighten the mood and talk solutions, shall we?
Keep the chit-chat flowing
Regular touchpoints are key!
Agnes’s daughter, Helen, calls her every week. Helen’s no private detective, but she has a knack for spotting anything off-kilter in her mother’s life.
So when Agnes mentioned that she’d won a Caribbean cruise (which she hadn’t entered for), Helen was on the case, averting what could’ve been a financial disaster.
And so, the first defense against elder fraud was born – regular check-ins.
Swot up on those trickster tactics
Know the scams to evade the shams. Now, let’s journey into the virtual world.
Agnes may not have been a digital guru, but she was proficient enough with her iPad. Thus, she visited websites like the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice page and AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, which detailed frequent scams aimed at the elderly.
With Helen’s assistance, she was adept at identifying those annoying phishing emails well in advance. Knowledge is power – or in this scenario, it’s the best form of prevention.
Two heads are better than one
Always verify with your trusty sidekick. Agnes was a social butterfly, fluttering around her circle of friends with utmost grace.
She wasn’t easily fooled, but even she understood the value of a second opinion. So, when the ‘IRS’ called for her credit card details to ‘fix an error’, Agnes made a beeline for her friend George, an ex-IRS agent.
Long story short, the ‘IRS’ wouldn’t be calling Agnes again.
Dump the dial disturbances
Kick those irksome call lists to the curb! Whether they’re robocalls, unrequested marketers, or potential fraudsters, they’re as welcome as a skunk at a garden party.
Our brave heroine, Agnes, decided enough was enough; her phone line needed a serious spring cleaning.
With her tech-whizz granddaughter as her sidekick, they unsubscribed from a handful of specific call lists – the National Do Not Call Registry, the Direct Marketing Association, and even Credit Reporting Agencies‘ opt-out services.
Just like that, she lowered the drawbridge to these telephonic intruders and junk mails.
Stay in the know with online wisdom
Your daily dose of digital vigilance. In this game of digital cat and mouse, Agnes didn’t just sit idle; she kept pace with the ever-evolving tactics of scammers.
She regularly tuned into reputable online sources like the Federal Trade Commission’s scam alerts, AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for her fix of the most recent fraud prevention strategies. She was not just keeping up but always one stride ahead in this digital chase.
Now, I want you to imagine this – Agnes, sitting in her living room, the phone rings. It’s the ‘IRS’ again, a different voice this time.
Agnes plays along, her smile widening with each passing second. And then, calmly, she says, “I think you’ve got the wrong number, dear. The real IRS wouldn’t make such a call.”
She hangs up, victorious. Elder fraud, not today!
But here’s the twist.
Never one to sit idle, Agnes decided to use her newfound knowledge for a larger cause. She set up a neighborhood awareness group focusing on elder fraud prevention. And just like that, from almost being a victim, she became the defender, the beacon of hope.
Scammers, you better watch out; Agnes and her gang are onto you!
