In 2021, older adults lost $1.7 billion to scammers. Over 93,000 victims filed complaints, and that only takes those who spoke up into consideration. You might think that a scam would be easy to detect, but scam artists use technology as part of the con. Your dad gets a call that says it’s from the local police department. The number on the caller ID matches his local police, so it must be legit. Scammers can use technology to make it look like they’re calling from a local number. It’s a practice called spoofing. Having home care aides around would help to fill some of his idle time.
Five specific types of scams accounted for 65% of the complaints:
Computer tech support scams
Government impersonation scams
Grandparent scams
Lottery and sweepstakes scams
Robocalls and phone scams
The FCC is trying to crack down as there are about four million robocalls going out to Americans every month. The FCC issued cease-and-desist notices to any voice service provider where the calls originate. If they don’t stop, their service shuts down.
While this helps, it doesn’t stop all calls, text messages, online chat requests, and door-to-door scams. What can you do to keep your dad safe from scams?
Set Up His Phone Service
If your dad has a cell phone or VoIP phone, take control and change the settings to block all unlisted or unknown callers. If he happens to have a Pixel, Google offers a service where it prescreens calls to only allow legitimate calls to go through after the caller responds to the AI.
When callers slip through, make sure those phone numbers are added to your dad’s blocked caller list. Eventually, the only calls he’ll get are the legitimate ones.
Install a Doorbell Camera
To keep unwanted scammers from your dad’s door, install a doorbell camera. When someone is at his door, you can use the app on your phone or computer to talk to the person. If it’s a legitimate visitor, you can tell your dad it’s okay to open the door. If not, you can tell them to leave and even call the police if they’re being persistent.
Place Warnings Near His Computer
Whether your dad uses a tablet, computer, or laptop, make sure you put a warning note on or near it that offers the important safety rules on the internet. Include items like never giving out his personal information to a stranger, not opening links in emails without first verifying the link is legitimate with the company and using passwords that are not easy to guess.
If your dad forgets his password, he’ll click a “Forgot My Password” link or button on the bank, store, or other online service’s webpage. At that point, he’ll get an email that will likely have a link. He’s expecting that email, so he’s okay clicking the link.
But, if he gets an email from his bank saying he needs to click the link and log in to check his account, he needs to stop and call his bank to verify they sent it. It’s very likely a phishing scam.
Use Home Care Services to Prevent Loneliness
Is your dad alone all week? If so, he is more likely to talk to strangers who come to his door, send him an online message, or call him on the phone. Keep him safe from scammers by making sure he’s not feeling lonely. Arrange home care services to ensure he has others to talk to throughout the week.
Sources: https://ncoa.org/article/top-5-financial-scams-targeting-older-adults
https://www.fcc.gov/spoofed-robocalls