Many workers in the United States struggle throughout their lives to try to live comfortably during their retirement. Unfortunately for many, those dreams turn into nightmares due to the horde of criminals who seek to take the fruits of your efforts. If you are still young, if you are a worker who is about to retire or you are a retiree, Take into account that in adulthood our senses diminish, so we must be more alert. Here are the most common scams that target retirees.
Scams cost seniors more than $28 billion each year, according to a new AARP study. Staying away from electronic media, the usual measure for adults, is not enough to protect you. In fact, criminals know that this social group has a greater relationship with the telephone, so you should be careful about the calls you receive.
We tell you what they are the most common scams you should watch out for in your retirement to protect your retirement funds.
1. Scams from alleged relatives
As we said, the senses diminish with age. This type of scam is very common in Latin countries and has increasingly spread in the United States. A scammer makes a call and pretends to be a grandchild, child or relative. Due to the voice distortion generated by the phone call, it is difficult for many to distinguish, especially when they claim to be in trouble and tell you that they need the money to deal with it. Among the most common conflicts to resolve is over a kidnapping or a legal problem.
Keep in mind that scammers are very perceptive of the information you provide. When someone does have a relative, The common mistake that many make is to blurt out a name right away.the same thing that criminals cling to to ensure that it is them.
To avoid falling for this type of scam, it is advisable to hang up immediately. Subsequently, calls the family member who was pretending to be the caller to check that he or she is okay. Experts suggest coming up with a code word with your loved ones so that if someone is ever in real trouble, you ask for it over the phone so you know it’s a real emergency.
2. Fake Care Agent Scams
Seniors are full of essential services, especially when it comes to Social Security, Medicare, among others. Because of this, Criminals who call by phone pose as customer service agents for these services.. This is one of the most common frauds. They ask for personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account number, and passwords. Its effectiveness lies in the threat of arrest or suspension of payments if they do not do so.
Few know that representatives of federal agencies do not make direct calls to beneficiaries. That means that if someone calls you saying they are one, it’s a scam, for sure. Additionally, IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA) representatives never request personal information over the phone and do not threaten legal action or demand money.
3. Caregiver scams
This scam has nothing to do with phone calls, however, it is one of the most dangerous, not only that they will take your money, but you run the risk that they could do something else to you. Many older adults require caregivers to care for them to meet their needs. Unfortunately, this makes it easier for These people have access to the retiree’s personal information, including their cash., credit cards and any other valuable item. As if this were not enough, many people do not report their caregivers because of the close relationship they build.
If you are hiring a caregiver for yourself or a family member, do extensive background research. Make sure the person is licensed and comes from a reputable company. Ask for references and talk to people who have worked with them in the past.
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