Because seniors are more frequently at home, may be lonely or feel less engaged in the world, are more apt to answer the phone and are less likely to cut off a conversation with a sales person or other “friendly” or “helpful” stranger they are more vulnerable to becoming the victim of fraud.  Frequently seniors avoid telling friends and family members if they have been victimized out of shame or embarrassment.  Unfortunately surveys reveal that once someone falls prey to a scam they are more likely to be victimized again.  Assure your loved one that you want to know when someone approaches her with any kind of scheme related to the various life decision making and that if they fear they have been victimized you want to help him recover what money they can. 

According to senior fraud expert, author and Senior State Director for AARP in Washington, Doug Shadel, scam artists will use a variety of tactics to pressure or entice your loved one to purchase their fraudulent goods or services including:

• Phantom fixation (a promise of a spectacular return on their investment that never materializes)
• Scarcity (“you’ll miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity if you don’t respond now”)
• Source credibility (someone posing as an authority to gain your loved one’s respect and interest)
• Social pressure (“everyone is getting in on this opportunity and you should as well”)
• Comparison (offering a seemingly-unbelievable deal)

In addition many scammers will try to develop a relationship with your loved one, learning her likes, interests and background.  Seniors will too often mistake this person as a newfound friend and make choices that they would not otherwise make because they are not expecting their “friend” to dupe them. 

Once your loved one responds to an offer her name is put on a so-called “sucker list” that con artists sell worldwide to other scammers, thereby increasing the likelihood that your loved one will start getting exponentially more junk mail and high-pressure calls. 

There are basic steps your loved one can take to protect herself.  Encourage her to:

• Get an unlisted phone number
• Use caller i.d. to screen calls and an answering machine or phone service to take messages if she’s not familiar with the callers’ name and number
• Hang up on an unwanted caller and simply close the door on salesmen coming to their door
• Never give someone money or access to their personal information such as bank account numbers, user names and passwords, security codes, etc—not in person, not on the telephone, not online.
• Never sign a contract without having someone else review it
• Check an organization’s reputation online through the Better Business Bureau and their state attorney general’s office
• Ask friends and neighbors for references when looking to hire someone for professional services or to make investment decisions

Take time to educate your loved one about the types of scams that predators engage in and more specific steps they can take to protect themselves from falling prey.