Beware: Scammers are Targeting Seniors

Small wonder that seniors are the biggest targets of frauds and scams.

They were born and grew up in a different world. Because of that - and because, by nature, seniors tend to be more trusting – every senior today has a red target on his/her back.

South Florida, of course, has the highest proportion of seniors in America. That’s why we lead the nation in identity theft and Medicare theft.

Many South Florida seniors receive e-mails stating they’ve won a prize, often in a contest they haven’t even entered. Others receive notice of free goods or services. To these types of e-mails, the experts all say the same thing. DON’T CLICK ON THE LINK!! If you didn’t enter the contest, you didn’t win anything. And if it sounds too good to be true – it is!

Another frequent tactic is to “notify” seniors that they’re eligible for free Medicare services. The only thing “free” about this is the opportunity for scammers to get their hands on your personal information, so they can bill the government for services they never provided.

Unfortunately, many seniors are embarrassed to report they’ve been the victim of a scam. And they don’t call the toll-free Medicare number, 866-357-6677 to report it.

One of my clients was recently targeted by one of the newly-popular schemes. She received a call from her “grandson,” saying he was stranded in England and needed her to wire money. However, this client had paid attention to what I had told her about scammers. And when she asked for her “grandson’s” last name…he hung up quickly.

At restaurants, pay with cash whenever possible. Giving credit cards to a server is never a good idea. And you should never use a debit card at a restaurant, either, because an unscrupulous employee can end up emptying your bank account.

When a senior is victimized by a scammer, it makes my blood boil. After all, at The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we’ve spent the past 33 years helping South Florida seniors keep what they’ve earned…with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.

We’ve helped thousands of people just like you. And if you’ve got questions about how to protect what you’ve earned…we’re just a phone call away.