Age Spots: This call is for you

The phone rings on a warm summer afternoon. Picking it up, you say, “Hello?” The voice of the caller on the other end is distorted and the line is full of static. You can barely make out that it is your grandson and he has been arrested in Mexico and needs you to send him money immediately.

The call comes in as you are sitting down for dinner. It is the IRS, and they are calling to inform you that you owe a substantial amount of money, and if you do not give them a payment right away, there could be severe consequences.

Medicare calls on your cellphone to inform you it has received some questionable charges that you need to verify. They are afraid someone has used your Medicare number and they need you to verify your number and other personal information.

All of these phone calls elicit a similar response: panic, confusion and even fear. All of these phone calls also are scams. Phone scams targeted at seniors are very popular and are increasing at an alarming rate.

Seniors are a prime target for scammers for various reasons. Many seniors have paid off their homes, saved money over their lifetimes and have good credit, all of which makes them “ripe for the picking” in a scammer’s mind. And many seniors are just nice people, those who grew up in the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s and were raised in a time when people strove to be polite and trusting. So once a scammer gets them on the phone, many have a hard time saying no or hanging up on the caller.

A real problem is that many people who fall victim to a scam, or even those who want to report questionable activity, do not know where to go to report the call. You can always report a scam to your local police or sheriff’s office. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office also can take reports of scams and identity theft. Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol helps Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries prevent, detect and report health-care fraud, so any suspected Medicare scams can be reported to the SMP.

Don’t be embarrassed or afraid if you have fallen for a scam. These criminals work very hard to stay one step ahead of us and practice what techniques work to get your money or information. If you have been scammed, please report it with as much information as you can.

There are some simple things you can do to avoid becoming a victim. First, sign up for the Do Not Call Registry managed by the Attorney General’s Office at (866) 662-2551. This will stop many calls, but if you are still receiving calls, they may be scammers who do not care if you are on the registry.

Protect your identity by not giving out personal information such as Medicare and Social Security numbers and banking information. Remember that Medicare, Social Security and the IRS will not call you if they need to contact you.

Talk to family members or a trusted friend if you are receiving calls that concern you. Scammers count on your silence to continue their scams. Remember that you can receive a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year for free. Check them to make sure there is no unusual information.

Most importantly, remember it is OK to hang up on someone, especially if they are trying to frighten or bully you. Block the number, if possible, or do not answer the calls. Take the steps you need to so that answering your phone is not something you regret doing.

If you have fallen for a scam or have concerns, please call our office at Aging Matters (800) 392-8771, and we will do our best to assist you.

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About Jackie

Jackie Dover is public information director at Aging Matters.