Q. I heard about a veteran who was scammed out of millions of dollars in Virginia before he passed away. The banks allowed dozens of huge wire transfers to go through to banks in Thailand without question. The man was very careful … [Read more...]
Virginia Veteran Scammed Out of Millions of Dollars, and the Banks Did Nothing to Stop It
Critter Corner: It’s International Fraud Awareness Week— Things to Know!
Dear Oakley, Senior fraud seems to be on the rise. I have had several friends who have been affected by it, unfortunately. I understand that it is International Fraud Awareness Week. What are some common types of fraud I should … [Read more...]
Deed Scams and Title Scams – Protect Your Senior Loved Ones
Q. My brother, Alexander, recently transferred his residence to a Living Trust Plus®. Shortly after, he received a "Deed Processing Notice" in the mail that looks a lot like an official government bill. It indicated that he and … [Read more...]
Critter Corner: How Can Seniors Protect Themselves from Becoming Victims of Fraud
Dear Hayek, My mother lives alone and is very trusting. She typically picks up the phone when it rings and has conversations with whoever is calling because she is lonely and loves to chat. I worry that she could easily fall … [Read more...]
Been the Victim of a Scam? The ReST Program Can Help!
You get a new text message from a number you've never seen before. It reads something like, “Hey is this Bonnie? It’s Steve. We chatted on a silver seniors dating site before when I came to visit my granddaughter, but we never met … [Read more...]
How to Scam-Proof Your Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Holiday Season
Q. My neighbor, Kathryn, was the victim of a COVID-19 grandparent scam recently. She was contacted by a criminal who posed as her panicked grandson in need of thousands of dollars quickly for an emergency hospital bill. Of course, … [Read more...]
Telehealth Scams are on the Rise: How Not to Fall Prey
This past winter, John Ernest got a call that showed up on his caller ID as being from "Medicare," asking if his father, Dean, who lived in a nursing home at the time, needed a free orthotic brace for pain. John knew that Medicare … [Read more...]