Money Crashers: 12 Elder Fraud Scams That Target Senior Citizens

A quick post here to let you know about my latest Money Crashers article. This one focuses on scams that target senior citizens, who make particularly juicy targets because they often have both well-padded bank accounts and less-than-perfect memories. Some popular ones include:

• The call from (allegedly) the Social Security Administration warning you that your Social Security Number has been "suspended" because it's been used improperly and you need to supply lots of personal information pronto to avoid losing your benefits
• The call from your "favorite grandchild," who is in terrible trouble (a car accident, an arrest for marijuana possession, something like that) and needs money immediately, sent by an untraceable method, and also a pledge of secrecy because their parents would kill them if they knew
• The one where you get three issues of a magazine for free, followed by a bill for your new "subscription" (what, you don't remember subscribing? Well, your memory isn't what it used to be.)
• The particularly heinous one where you get a call immediately after a loved one's death to inform you that they owed a lot of money for which you are now on the hook, and threatening you with exposure, lawsuits, or arrest if you don't pay up

Don't let the bastards get away with it! Inform yourself, and your loved ones over 65, about these scams so you know what to be on the lookout for. And learn some tips for protecting yourself if you get a call that sounds suspicious, and for protecting your loved ones if they seem to keep falling for these cons. Get the skinny here:

12 Elder Fraud Scams That Target Senior Citizens – How to Stay Protected