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Most Common Senior Scams

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This document, provided by the Borough of Roosevelt, New Jersey, and informed by AARP, Aura, and the Social Security Administration, serves as a public awareness resource regarding common scams targeting senior citizens. It outlines various fraudulent schemes, including grandparent scams, Medicare scams, Social Security scams, and others related to prescription drugs, funerals, anti-aging products, telemarketing, internet fraud, investments, reverse mortgages, and sweepstakes. The document details how these scams operate, warning signs to look for, and protective measures individuals can take to avoid becoming victims.

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--- Document: Most Common Senior Scams Document ---
U. S.
Borough of Roosevelt
Jersey Homesteads Historic District
P.O.BOX 12833 N. ROCHDALE AVENUE ROOSEVELT, NEW JERSEY 08555
OFFICE: (609) 448-0539 FAX: (609) 448-8716
Most Common Senior Scams
SCAM
ALERT
Grandparent Scam
Information provided by AARP
What is it?
Grandparent scams typically work something like this: The victim gets a call from someone
posing as his or her grandchild. This person explains, in a frantic-sounding voice, that he or she
is in trouble: There's been an accident, or an arrest, or a robbery.
To up the drama and urgency, the caller might claim to be hospitalized or stuck in a foreign
country; to make the impersonation more convincing, he or she will throw in a few family
particulars, gleaned from the actual grandchild's social media activity.
The impostor offers just enough detail about where and how the emergency happened to make it
seem plausible and perhaps turns the phone over to another scammer who pretends to be a
doctor, police officer or lawyer and backs up the story. The "grandchild" implores the target to
wire money immediately, adding an anxious plea: "Don't tell Mom and Dad!"
Fraudsters have also been known to ply this trick by email, text message and social media.
Warning signs:
The person claiming to be your grandchild asks you to send money immediately and
provides details on how for example, via gift card, prepaid card or wiring money
to a particular Western Union office.
The call comes late at night. Scammers figure an older person may get confused more
easily if they call then, the National Consumers League warns.
How to protect yourself from this scam:
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Do set the privacy settings on your social media accounts so that only people you
know can access your posts and photos. Scammers search Facebook, Instagram and
other social networks for family information they can use to fool you.
Do hang up immediately and call the grandchild or other family member in question,
on a known number, to make sure they're safe. With luck, they'll answer, and you'll
know the supposed emergency call is a scam.
Do contact other family members or friends if you have any concern that the
emergency could be real. Scammers plead with you to keep the situation a secret
precisely so you won't try to confirm it.
If you speak to someone who claims to be a police officer, do call the relevant law
enforcement agency to verify the person's identity and any information they've given
you.
Do trust your instincts. As the American Bar Association advises, if something
doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
Don't drop your guard because the number on your caller ID looks familiar.
Scammers can use technological tricks to make it appear that they're calling from a
trusted number, the Federal Communications Commission warns.
Don't volunteer information
scammers fish for facts they can use to make the
impersonation believable. For example, if the caller says, "It's me, grandpa!" don't
say your grandchild's name. Wait for the caller say it.
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Don't let a caller rush you into making a decision.
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Don't send cash, wire money, or provide numbers from gift or cash-reload cards to a
person claiming to be a grandchild. Scammers prefer those payment methods because
they're difficult to trace.
Don't panic, no matter how dire the grandchild's predicament sounds. Scam artists
want to get you upset to distract you from spotting the ruse.
More Resources:
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You can report any fraud targeting older people at 877-382-4357
If you sent money to a suspected scammer via Western Union, call the company's
fraud hotline (800-448-1492) as soon as possible.
If you used MoneyGram (800-926-9400). If the transfer has not yet been paid,
Western Union or MoneyGram may be able to stop the transaction and refund your
money.
Medicare Scam
Information provided by Aura
What is it?
Medicare Scam calls occur when criminals call you pretending to be from Medicare or a
legitimate healthcare insurance provider. They'll often use phone spoofing technology to
manipulate your Caller ID into displaying that they're calling from Medicare or a local phone
number.
If you answer the phone, here's what happens:
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First, scammers use your personal information that they found online (usually after it was
leaked in a data breach) to build trust. They could have your name, address, date of birth,
or even your SSN.
Next, they'll create a sense of urgency to try and get you to act emotionally. Scammers
might claim your Medicare card is going to expire or that you're eligible for a special
plan with lower premiums.
Finally, they'll ask to you "verify" your Medicare number or other sensitive information.
They might also pressure you to enroll in a fake or misrepresented plan, or convince you
to send them money to pay for services.
Common Medicare Scams pitches:
1. Medicare is issuing new cards (and your old one is invalid)
2. Your Medicare is about to be canceled (and you need to "verify" your identity)
3. You can retrieve early access to special vaccines (COVID-19 Scams)
4. You need to confirm your appointment for free genetic testing
5. You qualify for free medical supplies
6. You're eligible for a refund of overpayment of benefits
7. You're pre-approved for a cheaper or better plan
What to do if you receive a Medicare Scam call:
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Don't give out your personal information.
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Hang up the phone - you can always reach out to Medicare directly by calling 1-800-
MEDICARE. Do NOT call the number back that called you by pressing redial.
Report the scam call. You can contact the Medicare Fraud Hotline, 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
Will Medicare ever call you?
Medicare will never call you directly unless you have called them with a request. If you get an
unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Medicare, it's a scam.
There are only why reasons why you would receive a call from Medicare:
1) A Medicare health or drug plan provider may call you if you're already a member of the
plan.
2) A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you back if you've
left a message.
Social Security Scam
Information provided by Social Security
What is it?
Scammers may use legitimate names and phone numbers of Social Security Administration
(SSA) or SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) employees. Do not rely on names or caller
ID to verify that the caller is a government employee. Many scam calls "spoof" official
government phone numbers, or even numbers for local police departments. They may send
official-looking letters or reports by U.S. mail, email, text, or social media message to convince
you they are legitimate. The letters may appear to be from SSA or SSA OIG, with official
letterhead and government jargon. Generally, SSA only calls people who have recently applied
for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update
to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency.
If you owe money to Social Security:
They'll mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. They only accept payments
electronically through Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order
through our offices.
Social Security will never:
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Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don't agree to pay us money
immediately.
Suspend your Social Security number.
Promise a benefit increase in exchange for money.
Ask you to send us gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, Internet currency,
cryptocurrency, or cash through the U.S. mail.
Social Security only send emails or text messages if you have opted in to receive them
and only in limited situations.
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National Do Not Call Registry
What is it?
The National Do Not Call Registry is a list of phone numbers from consumers who have
indicated their preference to limit the telemarketing calls they receive. The registry is managed
by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency. It is enforced
by the FTC, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and state officials.
National Do Not Call Registry
En Español
Report Unwanted Calls
Verify Your Registration
Register Your Phone
The National Do Not Call Registry
gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls
You can your home or mobile phone for free.
After you register, other types of organizations may still call you, such as charities, political groups, debt collectors and surveys. To
learn more, read our EAΟΣ.
• If you received an unwanted call after your number was on the National Registry for 31 days,
Sellers and telemarketers:
Go to httestelemarketing contcall goy to access the National Do Not Cail Registry.
How to register:
National Do Not Call Registry
En Español
REGISTER YOUR PHONE
Registrations on the National Do Not Call Registry DO NOT EXPIRE. If you have previously registered your
number, there is no need to register again.
If you are unsure if you have registered previously, please
If your number is not on the Registry, please
VERIFY HERE
REGISTER HERE
GO TO THIS WEBSITE TO REGISTER:
https://www.donotcall.gov/register.html
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Report unwanted calls:
National Do Not Call Registry
En Español
REPORT UNWANTED CALLS
• Do Not Call: After your number is on the registry for 31 days, you can report unwanted sales calls.
Robocalls: Report calls that use a recorded message Instead of a live person (whether or not your number is on the
Registry).
Tell us what the call was about: Check the category that best describes what the call was about, for example debt
reduction, home security or vacations.
Reminder: Even If your number is registered, some organizations may still call you, such as charitles, political organizations,
and telephone surveyors. For a full description of who may still call you, please consult our Consumer FAQS.
Debt collectors may continue to call you whether your number is on the Registry or not. Know your ngnts regarding debt
collection. If a debt collector is not respecting your rights, REPORT IT HERE.
CONTINUE
GO TO THIS WEBSITE TO REPORT UNWANTED CALLS:
https://www.donotcall.gov/report.html
Can you spot the difference? This one is tricky!
maybank2u.com is not the same as
maybank2u.com
citibank.com is not the same as
citibank.com
(the first one is correct, the second one
is from hackers)
The "a" in the later url is a cyrillic
alphabet. *hint: look at the difference in the letter "a" font
in the word "bank"
An average internet user can easily fall
for this. Be careful for every mail
requiring you to click on a link.
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Other Known Senior Scams to Note:
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Counterfeit Prescription Drugs- Mostly, counterfeit drug scams operate on the Internet,
where seniors increasingly go to find better prices on specialized medications. This scam
is growing in popularity since 2000, the FDA has investigated an average of 20 such
cases per year, up from five a year in the 1990s. The danger is that besides paying money
for something that will not help a person's medical condition, victims may purchase
unsafe substances that can inflict even more harm.
Funeral & Cemetery Scams- There are two types of funeral and cemetery fraud
perpetrated on seniors. In one approach, scammers read obituaries and call or attend the
funeral service of a complete stranger to take advantage of the grieving widow or
widower. Claiming the deceased had an outstanding debt with them, scammers will try to
extort money from relatives to settle the fake debts. Another tactic of disreputable funeral
homes is to capitalize on family members' unfamiliarity with the considerable cost of
funeral services to add unnecessary charges to the bill. In one common scam of this type,
funeral directors will insist that a casket, usually one of the most expensive parts of
funeral services, is necessary even when performing a direct cremation, which can be
accomplished with a cardboard casket rather than an expensive display or burial casket.
Fraudulent Anti-Aging Products- In a society bombarded with images of the young and
beautiful, it's not surprising that some older people feel the need to conceal their age in
order to participate more fully in social circles and the workplace. After all, 60 is the new
40, right? It is in this spirit that many older Americans seek out new treatments and
medications to maintain a youthful appearance, putting them at risk of scammers.
Whether it's fake Botox like the one in Arizona that netted its distributors (who were
convicted and jailed in 2006) $1.5 million in barely a year, or completely bogus
homeopathic remedies that do absolutely nothing, there is money in the anti-aging
business. Botox scams are particularly unsettling, as renegade labs creating versions of
the real thing may still be working with the root ingredient, botulism neurotoxin, which is
one of the most toxic substances known to science. A bad batch can have health
consequences far beyond wrinkles or drooping neck muscles.
Telemarketing- Perhaps the most common scheme is when scammers use fake
telemarketing calls to prey on older people, who as a group make twice as many
purchases over the phone than the national average. While the image of the lonely senior
citizen with nobody to talk to may have something to do with this, it is far more likely
that older people are more familiar with shopping over the phone, and therefore might not
be fully aware of the risk. With no face-to-face interaction, and no paper trail, these
scams are incredibly hard to trace. Also, once a successful deal has been made, the
buyer's name is then shared with similar schemers looking for easy targets, sometimes
defrauding the same person repeatedly.
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Internet Fraud- While using the Internet is a great skill at any age, the slower speed of
adoption among some older people makes them easier targets for automated Internet
scams that are ubiquitous on the web and email programs. Pop-up browser windows
simulating virus-scanning software will fool victims into either downloading a fake anti-
virus program (at a substantial cost) or an actual virus that will open up whatever
information is on the user's computer to scammers. Their unfamiliarity with the less
visible aspects of browsing the web (firewalls and built-in virus protection, for example)
make seniors especially susceptible to such traps.
Investment Schemes- Because many seniors find themselves planning for retirement and
managing their savings once they finish working, a number of investment schemes have
been targeted at seniors looking to safeguard their cash for their later years. From
pyramid schemes like Bernie Madoff's (which counted a number of senior citizens
among its victims) to fables of a Nigerian prince looking for a partner to claim
inheritance money to complex financial products that many economists don't even
understand, investment schemes have long been a successful way to take advantage of
older people.
Homeowner/Reverse Mortgage Scams- Scammers like to take advantage of the fact that
many people above a certain age own their homes, a valuable asset that increases the
potential dollar value of a certain scam. A particularly elaborate property tax scam in San
Diego saw fraudsters sending personalized letters to different properties apparently on
behalf of the County Assessor's Office. The letter, made to look official but displaying
only public information, would identify the property's assessed value and offer the
homeowner, for a fee of course, to arrange for a reassessment of the property's value and
therefore the tax burden associated with it. Closely related, the reverse mortgage scam
has mushroomed in recent years. With legitimate reverse mortgages increasing in
frequency more than 1,300% between 1999 and 2008, scammers are taking advantage of
this new popularity. As opposed to official refinancing schemes, however, unsecured
reverse mortgages can lead property owners to lose their homes when the perpetrators
offer money or a free house somewhere else in exchange for the title to the property.
Sweepstakes & Lottery Scams- This simple scam is one that many are familiar with, and
it capitalizes on the notion that "there's no such thing as a free lunch." Here, scammers
inform their mark that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes of some kind and need to
make some sort of payment to unlock the supposed prize. Often, seniors will be sent a
check that they can deposit in their bank account, knowing that while it shows up in their
account immediately, it will take a few days before the (fake) check is rejected. During
that time, the criminals will quickly collect money for supposed fees or taxes on the
prize, which they pocket while the victim has the "prize money" removed from his or her
account as soon as the check bounces.
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