How to Cope With Elderly Parents Subjected to Scams
It is shocking to look inside your elderly parents' checkbook to find that money was lost on a scam. The money that your parents worked so hard for all their life is gone. Money that was to pay for their daily living needs. If this happens, contact the police and report the scam. Immediately set up a plan to protect your elderly parents from more scams. Don't blame your parents; just talk to them about what they can do to prevent this from happening again.
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Instructions
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Talk to your parents about scams that target the elderly. Create a plan to protect them. Discuss scams on a regular basis to keep your parents' memory fresh on this subject.
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Help manage their personal finances. Review canceled checks and look for gifts and unusual payments that they have made. Warn your parents not to give personal banking information, credit card numbers or social security numbers to anyone over the phone. Avoid financial investment schemes that sound to good to be true.
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Register their phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. List both home phone numbers and cell phone numbers. Discuss ways to handle telephone solicitations that they receive.
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Monitor your parents' mail. Check for a large amount of junk mail. Return letters that ask for money. Include a note that you no longer wish to receive solicitations from them.
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Warn your parents about email scans. Advise them to open emails only from family and friends.
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Visit your elderly parents' home often. Check for clues of visits from contractors or new friends. Ask them if anyone new has been to the house for a visit. Remind them not to let strangers in their home.
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Check the medications they are taking. Use only medications prescribed by their doctor. Avoid any "miracle cure" products that they may have discovered. Avoid discount prescription savings club that require membership fees to join.
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Educate yourself on current scams. Teach your parents to say "no thanks" to people who knock on their doors or call them on the phone.
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Tips & Warnings
Warn your parents not to sign anything.
Contact the media and the police about new scams.
Close any accounts that were involved in a scam.
Be alert to new scams that are happening in your neighborhood.
Join a caregiver's support group to cope with caring for your parents.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit greatgrandmother quoting. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
