Scammers Love the Elderly

The elderly are targeted on fake pharmacies, miracle cures, weight loss, diet plans and dating sites. Scammers just love them because many of the elderly have reached an age where they may have considerable assets but are insecure about their financial future. The information they read sounds so honest and believable... yep, it’s designed especially that way to gain your trust and access to your wallet.

HOW SCAMMERS REACH YOU:

By email. Most emails that are spam are filtered and will be found in your spam folder: DO NOT OPEN EMAIL FROM AN UNKNOWN ADDRESS. If none of the addresses are familiar DELETE THEM ALL. Don’t click to open anything... it could contain a virus which could harm your computer.

People or businesses that are legitimately trying to reach you will have the information they need to reach you and will direct mail you or contact you by phone. If they email, it will be to your direct in box.

NEVER give out personal information on your credit cards, bank accounts or social security.

Look at the website address: if it shows https: it means it’s a secure site. You’ll see this on shopping sites when you check out: Penneys, Macys, Dillards, RiteAid, etc. or the bank or credit union you belong to. Of course some rip off sites are smart and know this but there are still many sites who ask for personal information and at the top of the page you will see: http: and not https:.

FAKE PHARMACIES: Offer drugs and other medicines at very low prices and without the need of a prescription from your doctor. If you’ve done an online search for drugs your aware of online pharmacies but do you know which ones are legitimate? Beware if their location isn’t listed on their website nor is there a telephone number to call.

If you order and receive your product there usually isn’t information on where the drugs were made and the drugs could be harmful to your health.

Many will email (you’ll probably find them in your spam folder and if you do... ignore it and delete it). These companies are trying to get your credit card information and there isn’t any guarantee that you’ll receive the products you’ve paid for

Legitimate pharmacies require prescriptions from your doctor. They will have information on your particular prescription and will have a contact number for questions.

MIRACLE CURES AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS:

If it can cure acne to warts and everything else in between BUYER beware.

There is no real proof it works... testimonies from “users” can be type in very easy. Normally a first name is used and there isn’t anyway to verify the information.

Lots of fad fruits and juices have been promoted lately and some do help with your overall health but none are going to cure almost everything. If they did we would have been using them years ago.

Check the costs and shipping of nutritional supplement and you’ll find most are excessive. Go to Amazon and look up the product to find out if someone else makes it and compare the ingredients, the size and the cost.

Weight Loss: They sell simple diet plans you can find on the internet for free by doing a simple search. They may be selling “revolutionary”, “new”, “miracle” pills, creams or drinks guaranteed to get that weight off of you super fast. The only problem is they don’t work and unfortunately aren’t regulated by the government so the companies can do what they want... at your expense.

DATING SITES

Dating sites have become very popular and many people are very happy having met new people and friends. However, older people have to be on guard for the scammer who will be working very hard to separate you from your money. They are very smooth and believing and you won’t be the first they have taken advantage of.

They will spend a certain amount of time building up your trust and once they feel they have it will stress a need of help for a sudden illness or accident. Or they may say they really want to meet you in person but just don’t have the funds right now... they work on your guilt and hope you will indeed send money.

If you are communicating with a responsible person they won’t expect or ask for travel tickets to meet your or for money.

PROTECT YOURSELF

DO NOT: Share personal information regarding your financial situation. DO NOT give out details on credit cards, credit unions, banks, investments or anything to do with money. DO NOT agree to transfer money or to give money in any way shape or form!

Once you give your banking information away anyone who has that information can withdraw funds without your permission.

BE SMART - Don't share personal information unless it is with a reputable company you have thoroughly investigated. Don't open or read spam emails, just delete.