Scams are everywhere and especially dangerous for those who are not used to technology, how clever scammers are these days, and how easily they can get taken.
Whether for $100 or for $10,000, we need to be extra vigilant when it comes to our family and helping them navigate these times.
My friend Cameron Huddleston has been writing about this for years and her latest post has fantastic actionable advice if you have an elderly person in your life for whom you care about:
How to Protect Elderly Parents from Scams and Fraud [Cameron Huddleston] – “One of the biggest threats your parents face as they age is elder financial exploitation. They could lose their entire life savings to a scammer—or even to someone close to them who takes advantage of their trust. According to AARP, adults 60 and older lose an estimated $28.3 billion annually to elder financial exploitation.”
One thing I would add is the importance of regularly checking in with them. Just asking them what’s new, what’s happening, what they’re thinking about, etc. It can reveal if someone new (and suspicious) has entered their life trying to befriend them or otherwise build a rapport.