Most Common Scams That Target Older Adults

Picture this: you’re watching your favorite television show. Suddenly, you get a call from an unknown number. Worried that it might be something related to your relatives, you answer. The voice on the other end tells you about your prize to the Bahamas. All you have to do is give them your social security number to receive your trip. 

It’s annoying to answer calls like this, yet scams are inevitable.  Scams are deceptive schemes or tricks that take money or something from an unsuspecting person.  There are many types of scams different scams target us. Sometimes it’s inside our own home. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 5.7 million consumers reported scams in 2021. We have all fallen victim to different types of scams. That’s why we have to learn about them and avoid them. Here’s a list of the five common scams:

Health Care 

Health Care scams commonly target the elderly. Scammers impersonate Medicare or health care representatives to obtain the victim’s personal information. Sometimes scammers will ask to contact your relatives to prove they’re real. The next day, they will contact you again about talking to your relatives. Do not provide them with any of your personal information. Instead, contact your relative to confirm.  

Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

Prescription scams often occur online. The scammer creates websites that claim their medications are approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The victim is usually looking for better prices on their specialized prescriptions. The rising cost of prescription drugs makes people look for cheaper alternatives. The issue is that the victim is paying for a prescription that will not help their medical condition. Or sometimes, the medication is never delivered. The danger is that there is no openness to the actual ingredients of the drug. 

Tech Support 

This type of scam targets the elderly, and many have a difficult time navigating their technological device. This makes them an easy target for their lack of knowledge of computers, cybersecurity, and other devices. Tech support scams happen through a phone call or while using technological devices. Messages will pop-up warning the victim that their device is hacked, damaged, broken, or has a virus. The scammer will ask the victim to pay a fee to fix their device. In reality, their device has no issue. 

Government Impersonators  

Government scams include Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration. They contact victims convincing them of unpaid taxes, deportation, and fake identities. The scammers demand money; if not, they threaten to arrest the victim. The scammers can call using the victim's same zip code or the actual government number. This makes it easier to trick people into thinking they’re the real deal. They’ll likely ask for credit card information, cash, or wire transfer. 

Sweepstakes & Lottery

Sweepstake scams are popular that can happen through a phone call or while browsing online. An example of this type of scam is at the beginning of the article. Scammers usually tell the victim they won money, an expensive item, or a vacation. The scammers ask the victim to send money or gift cards to cover taxes and processing fees. Of course, the prize never arrives, but the scammer continues to contact the victim to tell them their prize will arrive soon. 

Now that you know the most common scams, you can avoid falling victim to them. Let's be more careful to protect ourselves from this type of danger. Do not feel embarrassed if you get scammed, this will not solve the problem. Many people go through this daily. Instead, contact AARP Scam Hotline at (877) 908-3360.

— Sunny Escalante