According to a survey from AARP, the advocacy group for older Americans, the latest percentage of gift card fraud against the elderly has increased 74% since the pandemic started. Telemarketer Gift Card scams that target Senior Citizens are very creative, and many pray on Senior Citizens because of their kindness and willingness to give by impersonating family members. One of the most common scenarios used in Gift Card Fraud is where a when a criminal convinces a consumer to pay a fake financial obligation, by purchasing gift cards and sharing the numbers off the back. The second scenario that is more commonly used is when a consumer has received a fraudulent gift card with no funds on it.
Scams and fraud can have an obvious effect on finances. You may loose money that was being saved for retirement or daily needs like paying bills or even grocery purchases. Regardless of how much money you lose, simply being targeted by scammers can also affect your mental health. You might feel shocked and hurt by trusting someone who defrauded you.
Below are a few ways to help protect yourself…
- Never send money to anyone who you do not know.
- Verify who the caller is. Some callers claim to be from your banking institution, Credit Card Company or even imitate a family member.
- Never “verify” your Account Numbers, Pin Numbers, Social Security Information, Banking Information or Gift Card Numbers to anyone over the phone
- Periodically check your “credit history” via Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.
- Do not send gift cards to anyone unless you know who you are sending them to
Most scams rely on older victims panicking, becoming confused, or making snap decisions. It can help to post notes next to phones, computers, and doors with the following tips:
- STOP: Take a breath and think about the situation. Does anything feel suspicious?
- LEAVE: Hang up, shut the door, or close the email. If someone is pressing you to act now, they could be a con artist – When in doubt, don’t give any information
- ASK: Call a family member for advice, search online for more details, and find out if organizations are real
- WAIT: Take the time to absorb what you’ve learned and make a plan of action. Don’t rush any decisions.
- ACT: Only visit legitimate websites and call verified, safe phone numbers.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact the Washington Township Police Department if you feel you have been the victim of a scam by calling 201-664-1140
