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Created in 2006 and first held at the United Nations, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed each year on June 15. The past 2+ years of pandemic isolation and uncertainty provided time to reflect on how much work remains to prevent psychological, physical and financial elder abuse. During the pandemic, older adults and the disabled struggled with ever-changing Covid restrictions, transportation obstacles and timely access to information needed to stay in their homes. For some, their primary links to the rest of the world were the US Postal Service, local newspaper, cable access TV and telephones. For computer-savvy elders, Covid exposed the limitations of digital devices and remote video services like Zoom.
Below are a few examples and suggestions for how we can better protect older adults and the disabled.
- Some residents receive daily harassing phone calls, made by scammers and con artists falsely “spoofing” local caller ID numbers. Let most unrecognized phone calls go into voicemail and be careful how you respond to messages. A current phone scam involves different voices and caller IDs but the same repetitive script. Someone from “the department of Visa and Mastercard” informs you of an exorbitant, alleged charge for some popular product to “your” account and a number for you to call if you didn’t order the item. Do not call that number!!! If you have concerns, call the contact numbers included in your monthly statements for your credit cards or bank. For further information, watch Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan’s 3/16/21 Virtual discussion “Elder Scams, Covid and Isolation” at https://youtu.be/NNbbxeq2gzM. Reading Community Television (RCTV) periodically also replays that discussion.
- If you mistakenly answer a scam call, do not say “yes” if the party asks who you are because the recording of you saying “yes” may be misused for another purpose. Many calls are computer-generated robocalls and, just by picking up the phone, even if you say nothing, your number may be valuable to others as a verified number belonging to a human. Do not stay on the line—hang up and offer them no information. If anyone mentions that the younger generations use untraceable Gift Cards instead of cash for their transactions, you are probably dealing with a scammer. “The Con Artist’s Playbook – The Psychology Behind ID Theft, Fraud & Scams“ is an excellent, free pamphlet created by the AARP Fraud Watch Network. Copies are available at the Reading YMCA as well as aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
- When ordering online, watch out for US Postal Service Tracking Scams. A seemingly legitimate company may be little more than a computer in another state or country used by a scammer to post fake products and receive orders. The scammer annexes current tracking numbers issued by the USPS and fraudulently assigns to you another person’s USPS tracking number. When you receive a tracking delivery notice indicating the goods have been delivered, in reality, these are goods that another person legitimately ordered through an entirely different vendor and received across town. These are not your goods and not to your address! Yet, PayPal considers as proof of delivery the tracking number the scamming vendor provides. The scammer is paid and PayPal is paid. You, however, are left to dispute the charge with your credit card company. To scammers, people over 60 are trusting, easy targets.
- Like many organizations sidelined during the pandemic, the Massachusetts Silver Legislature (a venerable longtime elder advocacy organization created in 1980 by Governor King’s Executive Order) is seeking new members in all districts. They may be contacted by email at masilverlegislature@gmail.com. Strengthen the Silver Legislature and help them continue to make a difference in Massachusetts. Let your Federal and State Senators and Representatives know that you want the multiple daily scams against older adults stopped. Financial and psychological abusers need to be held accountable!
Kendra Cooper, Esq.
Elder Advocate/Reading TMM Prec. 8
