Elderly at Highest Risk for Identity Theft
The elderly are increasingly the primary targets for identity theft scams. The fastest growing crime in the U.S., identity theft is showing no signs of slowing down even as options for protection yourself increase. Four gang members in Fresno California were just arrested for elderly abuse and identity theft after scamming victims that included a 97 year old. The scammers generally contacted the victims by telephone, representing themselves as government officials requesting information such as social security numbers and family history. This reinforces many of the simple tips I’ve been sharing for years - protect your social security number, permanently destroy any sensitive garbage that may contain your personal information, store information in secure locations, and consider purchasing identity theft protection. Make sure you follow these steps and share them with older folks in your life, such as your parents. You could be saving them a ton of grief.
August 9th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Thanks for the good tips. It’s been an ongoing problem for decades. I remember the horror of hearing that neighbors down the street had been attacked, two murdered immediately, and one dying weeks later. That incident led to my becoming a neighborhood watch block captain, which I highly recommend to all. It’s an excellent way to work together to help protect all the neighbors on the block, including the elderly ones. It’s vital for us to make sure we keep sharing this info with those we provide senior home care for.