THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM SCAMS

In today’s world of disinformation, dishonest sales swindles and outright criminal frauds, nothing upsets me more than those actors who exploit the elderly. We all have older friends and relatives, many living alone, who have lost valuable savings to a multitude of schemes designed to take advantage of them. This commentary will examine some of the common fact patterns and offer information on how to address this growing and troubling problem.

An ever-shrinking number of seniors have never adapted to using personal computers or smart phones. This protects them against the numerous scams directly related to the internet. Unfortunately, our oldest citizens who communicate primarily by landline telephones and the mail service are hardly immune from swindles.

Consider the elderly relative or close friend, living alone. One of the events that provides some welcome stimulation is the daily mail delivery. This individual may have developed a special affinity for missionary work, world hunger or domestic and wild animals. In the mail are multiple pleas for donations, focusing on the one or several causes that this person has supported in the past. The involved charities all trade mailing lists to insure maximum penetration into each older person’s checkbook. In no time, our elderly friend is getting dozens of solicitations each week and is writing numerous checks to demanding charities, often to the same organization more than once a month.  

Unfortunately, there is nothing illegal about a charitable scheme that plays on the emotions of the elderly. However, there are several defensive measures to suggest. First, the older person should be encouraged to stop the check writing and to seek assistance in researching each charity to determine which ones are worthy of a contribution. The Pennsylvania Charity Search, Better Business Bureau Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and Charity Watch are good sources of information.

Second, many older people rely on IRA income to meet expenses. Each IRA is subject to yearly Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Many older Americans are unaware that they can make a tax free Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) as part of their mandatory IRA distribution. If the older person is convinced to make a single reasonable contribution through a QCD to satisfy their empathy for a charitable cause, the constant barrage of daily mail solicitations can be thrown in the trash bin.

Lastly, assist the older person in contacting unsolicited charities to delete their name from mailing lists. Inform supported charities to remove their names from any lists that are rented or exchanged. Register with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) to reduce unwanted solicitations.

Phone and in person solicitations are also problems for the elderly. Our senior friends should be encouraged to not answer calls from unknown numbers and to never give out personal information.  They should also be registered at the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov).

At the front door, our area is afflicted with fast-talking marketers who are well-trained in getting the elderly to change their gas and electric suppliers. The homeowner is offered a reduced teaser rate that often does not provide a less expensive long-term solution. All of these in-person offers should be declined. The older person should be encouraged to work with a friend familiar with gas and electric rates or to consult a public information source like PaPowerSwitch or PowerSetter. These sites provide the best consumer options for suppliers in each community with no hard sales tactics.

We are now in the middle of the Medicare marketing season directed at seniors. The saturation of TV ads and infomercials, unsolicited phone calls and mailings is overwhelming.  The regulations against unsolicited direct contact are rarely followed.

The danger in too much Medicare marketing is utter confusion that leads older adults to enroll in plans that do not meet their needs. There are many examples where unscrupulous representatives enroll the elderly customer in a plan that does not provide coverage where he or she lives. Others offer plans where needed prescriptions are not covered by the new policy. If a local senior needs unbiased help with Medicare, they should contact the Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) to receive reliable advice.

Most individuals over 60 now have ready access to the internet through a personal computer, iPad or smart phone. There are countless conveniences when utilizing internet technology in everyday senior living, including personal safety.  However, these communication and search devices subject seniors to another level of potential scams.     

Many older people consider emails to be a safe and convenient method of communication. The truth is that those over 60 are frequent cybercrime targets. Our seniors need constant reminders to update software, purchase cyber security protection, to use strong passwords, and to avoid phishing scams. They incorrectly believe it is safe to post personal information to close friends on social media. Their curiosity leads them to open emails from unknown sources and worse, to open email attachments from these sources. All of this activity is an invitation to the cybercriminal.

Our seniors deserve accessible information programs that make them aware of the scams and frauds that are lurking everywhere. Regular community events can educate them on how to avoid becoming the next victim and encourage them to report any instances of fraud without embarrassment. Basic technology training and free internet safeguards should be made available. Seniors have earned our constant vigilance and the right to be protected.