While identity theft and fraud can strike people of all ages, senior citizens may be particularly vulnerable, for several reasons. They’re more likely to have more savings and good credit scores, which makes seniors attractive targets, according to the FBI. In addition, says the FBI, they “were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Con artists exploit these traits, knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say ‘no,’ or just hang up the telephone.” Senior citizens may also be less likely to report fraud because they don’t know who to report it to, are ashamed or may be afraid, the FBI says. For instance, a fraud victim may worry that family members discover the fraud, they may believe the victim is no longer able to manage his or her own finances.
According to the National Council on Aging, here are some common frauds and scams that may target senior citizens:
Medicare / health insurance fraud
In these types of scams, a fraudster may contact a consumer and claim to be a Medicare representative in order to get victims’ personal information. They may also provide bogus services at makeshift clinics for senior citizens, then use their personal information to bill Medicare.
What you can do
If they receive a phone call, email, or letter from someone claiming to be from Medicare,…
