COVID-19 Scams Targeting Older Adults
Published: April 10, 2020
Older adults may be hard hit by the coronavirus – and scammers prey on that. If you or someone you know must stay at home and needs help with errands, you’ll want to know about this latest scam.
Scammers are offering help with errands and running off with your money.
If you’re an older adult or a caregiver for one, you may need help picking up groceries, prescriptions, and other necessary supplies. If someone you don’t know offers to help, be wary. Some scammers offer to buy supplies but never come back with the goods or your money. It’s usually safer to find a trusted friend or neighbor or arrange a delivery with a well-known company.
If you’re ordering supplies online, know who you’re buying from.
Online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t. Use an established delivery service, or order directly from the store. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are offering contactless delivery. If you need additional help for yourself or a loved one, the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can connect you to services for older adults and their families. You can also call 1-800-677-1116.
Are you also helping to manage someone’s money?
- Check-in by phone or video chat. Stay in touch to know how they’re handling things – and so they know you’re thinking about them.
- Ask questions. If your loved one mentions concerns about money or spotted unusual activity in their accounts, ask for details. Older adults and their family members can learn about common types of scams, as well as how to avoid and report them by checking out the Pass it On and Money Smart for Older Adults programs.
- Financial caregivers: learn more about your responsibilities. The CFPB’s Managing Someone Else’s Money guides can help you understand your role as a fiduciary. Each guide explains your responsibilities, and how to spot financial exploitation and avoid scams.
Help keep everyone safe from scams. Help spread the word and keep those you care about from falling for a scam, regardless of their age or health status. If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Here are some tips from the FTC to help you keep the scammers at bay:
Hang up on robocalls. Don’t press any numbers. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from scam Coronavirus treatments to work-at-home schemes. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
Misinformation and rumors: Scammers, and sometimes well-meaning people, share information that hasn’t been verified.
What to do: Before you pass on any messages, and certainly before you pay someone or share your personal information, do some fact checking by contacting trusted sources. For information related to the Coronavirus, visit What the U.S. Government is Doing. There you’ll find links to federal, state and local government agencies.
Know who you’re buying from. Online Sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and health and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t.
What to do: Check out the seller by searching online for the person or company’s name, phone number and email address, plus words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” If everything checks out, pay by credit card and keep a record of your transaction. If you’re concerned about the pricing of products in your area, contact your state consumer protection officials. For a complete list of state Attorneys General, visit naag.org.
Checks from the Government: Don’t respond to texts and emails about checks from the government. The details are still being worked out. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer.
Fake emails, texts and phishing: Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. They could download viruses onto your computer or device.
Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ignore online offers for vaccinations. There currently are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — online or in stores.
Fake charities: When a major health event — like the Coronavirus — happens, you might be looking for ways to help. Scammers use the same events to take advantage of your generosity. Some scammers use names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving. Money lost to bogus charities means less donations to help those in need.
What to do: Use Give.org, CharityNavigator.org or GuideStar.org to help you research charities. When you give, pay safely by credit card—never by gift card or wire transfer.
This is a message from National Association of Senior Advocates.
Want more information on the latest scams they’re seeing? Sign up for NAOSA scam alerts at www.naosa.org.
USSFCU is proudly affiliated with the National Association of Senior Advocates (NAOSA).
NAOSA was founded to protect our senior population from unethical business practices, scams and businesses that attempt to target and take advantage of not only seniors but all consumers. Please visit their website at www.naosa.org for more information.