We all hear about scams against older adults. There's the calls to a grandparent pleading for help after they have supposedly been arrested and they don't want to call their parents. The "grandchild" knows the real grandchild's name, so the person believes them and rushes to help. A friend of mine, who is also in the long term care industry, told me it just happened to her mother, and her mother fell for it. There is something in an older persons brain that reacts with a rush of emotion that prompts them to act. CBS did an interview with a former scammer. He said he could make $10,000 a day. Most of these scams are held out of the U.S.. The costs to our seniors are in the billions. Those targeted are typically retired and home most of the time. When they get a call from what they think is their grandchild, they a more apt to send money. Talk to your parents, grandparents, older neighbors and tell them about this. The only way we can protect them is with knowledge!
Gwyneth Blackwell