Preventing Elder Abuse

Financial exploitation is one of the most common forms of elder theft. Misuse or mismanagement of a senior’s money and investments are prime examples. Monetary theft usually involves trusted people such as caretakers, bank employees, doctors and nurses, friends, neighbors, and even pastors. On top of this, strangers and “professionals” constantly try to scam people into buying false services or donating money to fake charities.

Elder theft comes with many dire consequences. Seniors may end up devastated and experience loss of trust and security. Some even lose their homes. Seniors may be engulfed with feelings of fear, guilt, worthlessness, and self-doubt. Folks left with little to no money may have to become reliant (or more reliant) on other people or the government. To prevent monetary theft:

• Educate older adults on common scams such as the “fake grandchild” scam touched on earlier. The FTC lists these as the top 10 fraud categories:
• Imposter scams
• Telephone and mobile services
• Online shopping and negative reviews
• Prizes, sweepstakes, and lotteries
• Internet services
• Travel, vacation, and timeshare plans
• Foreign money offers and counterfeit check scams
• Business and job opportunities
• Health care
• Advance payments for credit services
• Build checks and balances into seniors' financial affairs. Avoid having all of the money and all of the power (legal, financial, and otherwise) rest in the hands of one person.
• Keep a close eye on funds. Ideally, you'd know quickly whether a bank statement is normal or has a few suspicious transactions.

Unfortunately, there are many ways criminals can steal identities. Some examples include:

• Stealing Mail – Mail often includes bank and credit card statements, checks, and tax information. Identity thieves rummage through the trash for these “goodies.”
• Phishing Online – Some emails are scams but look legitimate. These e-mails may ask seniors to “verify their information” by clicking on a link and entering data such as their account number or password. This gives them verified personal information to access their financial and online accounts.
• Sending Mail – Identity thieves also send mail to seniors in a scheme similar to phishing. These documents appear to come from trusted sources such as banks, charitable organizations, or well-known companies. It's not always easy to tell the difference between what is legitimate and what isn’t, and seniors can fall for a call to action such as writing a check. Usually, the mail has an “official” letterhead with authentic-looking logos and trademarks.
• Cold Calling – Seniors may receive phone calls from “charities” or “banks.” For instance, someone may pretend to be a bank representative who needs to verify account information. The fake representative scares the caller by saying the account is going to be closed if the account isn't verified.
• Recording Credit Card Information – With skimming devices or observational skills, thieves can steal credit card numbers and other information. They can rack up huge bills before seniors realize that their identity has been compromised.

To prevent identity theft, it is important to practice the following:

• Shred mail that has personal information before you toss it. The mail can be financial/bank statements, credit card statements, and medical bills.
• Keep a close eye on credit card statements and track spending. You should be able to tell within a few seconds if something doesn’t look right or if someone has been making fraudulent purchases.
• Cut up cards you don’t use before throwing them away.
• Get a P.O. box. To be extra safe, use it as the sender’s address.
• Have checks delivered to the bank or P.O. box rather than the home address. Even better, encourage seniors to stop using checks. They contain information including bank account numbers and home addresses.
• Don't make copies of the senior's driver's license. Anyone with a copy has access to the senior's address. From there, it may be a matter of time before thieves get bank account numbers and other personal data.
• Never reveal seniors' personal information unless you know the receiver and have a good reason. Encourage seniors to do the same.

Older people tend to be more vulnerable, so thieves are drawn to their houses. To keep seniors safe, secure their homes and carefully select a caregiver if you plan on having one. Caregivers participate in some home thefts and make away with valuables, money, and even identities.

Considerations for Protecting a Home

• Get a dog. Barking, regardless of the dog's size, scares off potential criminals. Of course, dogs pose tripping risks, so train these canine companions.
• Install a home security and alarm system. Most modern home security systems come with a variety of video options, including video doorbells and outdoor cameras. They provide more visibility and perspective of what's going on in different areas of the home. You can keep a close eye on any suspicious behavior from your phone. If you want, you can set the system up so that another trusted family member helps you monitor.
• Make sure the doorstep area is well-lit at night. Thieves like to frequent dark areas where they think they won’t get caught. Lights coming on suddenly scare off a lot of thieves.
• Keep your doors and windows locked, especially at night. These actions hinder easy access into the home.
• Become friends with the neighbors. If criminals feel like they might be watched, they go elsewhere. Neighbors may notice activities such as someone going through the trash. Plus, many are happy to bring in the mail for a senior with mobility issues.
• Ask for references before letting contractors and caregivers in. Try to work with reputable companies only. They're also more likely to have the resources to run background checks on their workers. Keep an ongoing eye on valuables in the house. Check that they're where they should be.
• Watch what goes into the trash. Criminals are notorious for rummaging through the trash for packaging that signals something valuable in the home. For example, a TV box indicates there's a new, valuable TV inside to steal. Cut up this type of packaging and shred documents with personal information.
• Ask seniors to contact you before accepting help from strangers. Many con artists go door to door with a friendly face offering to help with mowing the lawn, painting the walls, trimming the trees, you name it! They often come with another person. One stays outside to chat with the senior while the other person sneaks inside. Encourage seniors to answer the door only to people they know. If the house has a security system or even just a doorbell camera, you can track who is hanging around.
• Use a safe that’s bolted down somewhere inconspicuous so it cannot be easily removed. Place valuables here rather than leaving them around in the house in plain sight. A portable safe is trickier, as seniors might move it around. Still, it is better than nothing.
• Keep valuables out of plain sight from the street. If people can easily peek into the window and see a large television or something expensive, they may break in. Remind seniors to keep their curtains drawn, especially when they are not home.
• Maintain the home and yard. Mow the lawn, water the grass, touch up the shutters, and take the mail in. Make the residence look like someone lives there and cares enough about the home to keep it secure.
• Ensure that the street number is visible from the street. Doing this helps authorities find the senior's home quickly in case of an emergency.
• Check that alarms and lights are tamper-proof. Otherwise, burglars can turn alarms and lights off on their way in.
• Set a timer for lights to go on and off or get smart lights so the home always looks occupied. Burglars prefer to break in when no one is home.
• Close the garage door fully before going out. A half-open garage door gives an easy access point to the house. If you have a smart home, consider smart garage door openers.