By Sarah Allen-Sutter
There has been an alarming uptick in the number of financial scams targeting seniors, with the DOJ reporting an increase of 30% in the past year alone. These scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with the perpetrators using manipulative means such as impersonating trusted institutions, creating sophisticated phishing emails, and using coercive tactics to gain personal and financial information from victims.
All Yolo County residents should remain vigilant to protect themselves and loved ones from scams. Here are some tips to avoid scammers:
1. Be cautious of unsolicited calls and emails requesting personal information. Sophisticated scammers may impersonate trusted institutions, and legitimate organizations will never request sensitive information via unsolicited means.
2. Keep personal information, especially social security numbers and banking information, safe and secure.
3. Regularly review financial statements and credit card reports to make sure there is no suspicious purchases. Legitimate organizations will never ask you to purchase gift cards or put money into cryptocurrency.
4. Never talk down to a victim of fraud. Embarrassment and fear of losing independence may prevent older adults from reporting incidents of fraud. Support them through this difficult time.
5. Stay informed by visiting trusted organizations’ official websites to check for the latest updates on scam alerts.
6. Report instances of elder fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). If you suspect someone is a victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, report it to Adult Protective Services (APS) at 530-661-2727 or 1-888-675-1115.
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Yolo Healthy Aging / 530-776-5006 / YoloHealthyAging.org / Info@YoloHealthyAging.org