Unfortunately, older adults have always been the main target of identity thieves for as long as they have existed. Older adults are frequently lonely, vulnerable, trusting, socially isolated, and may be suffering from cognitive decline. Furthermore, many older people do not check their credit reports on a regular basis, if at all, making early detection difficult. When bill collectors begin calling on charges that the predator placed in their name, the victim or their caregiver may then become aware that their identity has been stolen. Read on to learn tips for identity theft prevention.
Be Careful When Shopping Online
It is important to stay cautious when shopping online. If you don’t know the company, it is best to avoid buying from them. Companies that are well-known tend to make older adults feel more at ease when doing online purchases but do make sure that you are on a legitimate website. You can check that a website is secure by looking out for a small padlock symbol on the address bar of your browser. The web address should also start with “https” instead of simply “http”, especially when you are about to enter sensitive information, such as on the payment page.
Monitor Financial Activity
Older adults are increasingly going online and using email and social media. While the internet is a fantastic way to remain in touch with friends and family, it also provides another outlet for crooks to prey on older adults. Many Internet scams include the transmission of money or the disclosure of bank or credit information. Family members and caregivers can keep a lookout for strange behavior in their loved ones’ financial activities, including credit card and bank statements.
Credit Reports
Family members and caregivers could urge their loved ones to use a free monthly credit service to monitor their credit reports. Even if they are not utilizing their credit to secure a credit card or loan, monitoring their credit reports is critical for detecting occurrences of identity theft. Some credit monitoring services furthermore provide free or low-cost identity theft protection.
Hang Up
As older adults are more likely than younger age groups to own landline phones, they are also more prone to fall victim to phone scammers. Hang up the phone if a caller wants personal information, such as a credit card number, bank account number, or Social Security number. A lawful request for personal information may come from an institution such as a creditor or a bank. In these cases, older adults should write down the name and phone number of the organization and then verify its legality before handing the information. To assist avoid identity theft, family members can conduct internet research on any such requests.
Choose Discovery Commons Cypress Point
At Discovery Commons Cypress Point, we have three distinct senior living options: assisted living, memory care, and respite care. Residents in our retirement community can enjoy access to our exclusive lifestyle programs, which are carefully designed to provide convenience, reduce stress, and improve the quality of their health and lifestyle.
