Senior Scams: More Money, More Coverage?
Scamming has become so prevalent in society that popular talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil have dedicated
entire segments to the topic! Scammers will stop at nothing to get what they want, and seniors and the disabled are common prey for scam artists. Arm yourself with one of the best tools to combat scammer: knowledge. Knowledge is power and one of the best ways to making yourself and your loved ones less vulnerable is learning about what's going on out there, being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to defend yourself. Let's check out the latest in senior scamming:
A popular scam affecting seniors nationwide is one in which the senior receives a call from someone claiming to be with their county's medical office and requesting credit card information to charge a certain amount of money to "ensure the continuation of medical coverage." There is no reason why you should be charged to continue your medical coverage. Furthermore, you should be weary of distributing any financial information to anybody, let alone somebody with whom you are not familiar.
According to Scam Busters, a non-profit dedicated to seeking justice against scammers, upcoming changes in Medicare prescription drug programs may increase the prevalence of senior medical scams, so this is something to be aware of! Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? The best thing we can do is come together and promote awareness to better protect those who are most vulnerable. Share your experiences with us!