Prevention Tips
Every person - no matter how young or old - deserves to be safe from harm by those who live with them, care for them, or come in day-to-day contact with them. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of elder abuse.At Home
• Lock your doors and windows
• If someone is at the door, see who it is before opening the door. Ask strangers to give their name and
show you I.D.
• Be very careful whom you let in your home. Never allow a stranger in your home, even if they appear to
be in distress or with a young child.
• Never agree to have work done on your home without getting at least three written estimates from
reputable contractors whose identities and addresses have been checked.
• Never leave mail in your mailbox for the mail carrier to collect.
• Make a list of expensive items (jewelry, etc.). Take a picture of these items and store the details in a
safe place.
• When walking to and from a store, always be aware of who is around you. Do not leave a purse or
handbag trailing from your arm or shoulder.
Finances
• Don't keep large amounts of cash on hand.
• Don't take money from your bank account just because someone tells you to.
• Never give out personal details such as your bank account number, Social Security number or credit
card number to any person over the telephone
• Check your bank statement carefully each month. If you have a trusted adult child, consider asking your
bank to send a duplicate copy of the statement to that child so that another pair of eyes can check that
there is no suspicious activity on your account.
• Buy a shredder and shred all unused credit card applications.
• Ask your bank to call you if any check over a certain amount is ever presented to that branch for payment.
• Beware of family members persuading you to sign deeds or assets over to them.
• Keep your checkbook and spare checks in a safe place.
Scams
• If someone calls you, (e.g., a telemarketer), don't be afraid to hang up on them.
• Stay away from deals that sound "too good to be true".
• Beware of deals that ask for a lot of money up front and promise sure success.
• Don't be taken in by miracle cures for health problems.
• Do not agree to send money at the request of a telephone solicitor.
• Here are some examples of common scams:
ο BOGUS CHARITIES - The senior is approached either at the door or by telephone with a request to
donate to a legitimate sounding charity. Be very wary of such calls. Many so-called charities are
bogus and the money is diverted directly into the pockets of the crooks.
ο HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS - The senior is approached normally by at least two individuals posing
as contractors. The unsuspecting victim is persuaded that a roof, driveway or home needs repairs.
The strangers pretend to carry out the work, which is in fact shoddy, and almost worthless.
ο THEFTS FROM WITHIN THE HOME - The senior is approached at the door by at least two individuals
who use a ruse to enter the senior's home. Such ruses are a request to use the telephone or to get
a glass of water. Once inside, one of the individuals will keep the senior occupied while the other
individual rummages through the senior's personal belongings and steals cash and jewelry.
ο BANK INVESTIGATOR SCHEME - The senior is contacted outside their bank or by telephone by a
stranger who identifies himself as a member of law enforcement. The stranger asks for the senior's
help in catching a dishonest bank employee. The senior is persuaded to go inside the bank to a
particular teller window and withdraw a large sum of cash and then meet the "official" outside.
Once the senior hands over the cash, the stranger disappears with the money.
ο SWEEPSTAKES SCAM - The senior receives a call either from Canada or from another part of the
USA. The caller explains that the senior has won a substantial prize, but to collect that prize, the
senior must first send a money order for up to $4,000 by express mail.