As people get older, they become more susceptible to scams. This is because seniors may be more trusting than other age groups, and they may not have the same level of technological knowledge. In this blog post, William Schantz walks you through some common scams that target seniors and provides advice on how to protect yourself from these scams. Stay safe out there!
List of Scams That Target The Elderly
There are many scams that specifically target seniors. These can be both financial and physical scams, and they can cause a great deal of harm to the victim. It’s important to be aware of these scams, according to William Schantz, so that you can protect yourself or your loved ones from becoming a victim.
One common scam is known as the “Grandparent Scam.” In this scam, the scammer will contact the senior citizen and pretend to be their grandchild. They will then say that they are in some sort of trouble and need money to help them out. They may even go so far as to say that they have been arrested or are in the hospital. This can be a very convincing scam, as the grandparent may want to help their grandchild in a time of need. However, it’s important to remember that you should never send money to someone you don’t know. If you receive a call like this, hang up and contact your grandchild or their parent to verify the story.
Another common scam is the “Health Insurance Scam.” In this scam, the scammer will contact the senior citizen and pretend to be from a health insurance company. They will then say that the senior citizen is eligible for a new policy or some sort of discount. They may even go so far as to say that the senior citizen is at risk of losing their current coverage. This can be a very convincing scam, as many seniors are concerned about their health insurance coverage. However, it’s important to remember that you should never give your personal information to someone you don’t know. If you receive a call like this, hang up and contact your health insurance company directly to verify the story.
These are just a few of the many scams that target seniors. It’s important to be aware of these scams, according to William Schantz, so that you can protect yourself or your loved ones from becoming a victim. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and do not give out any personal information. You can also contact your local Better Business Bureau to report the scam.
The Concluding Thoughts
As you can see, there are many scams that target the elderly. It is important to be aware of these scams and to talk to your parents or grandparents about them, so they know what to look out for. If someone tries to scam them, they will be able to spot it and report it right away. Elderly individuals are targeted by scammers because they may be more trusting and less likely to report a scam.
These are just some examples by William Schantz of common scams targeting seniors; there are many others as well. If you have any suspicions about something being a scam, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local police department for advice on what steps to take next.