Gary Barg, Editor-in-Chief
Between phishing and Social Security scams, telemarketing fraudsters, and even sweepstake lottery scams, protecting our loved ones financial security is an ongoing battle. Unfortunately, as soon as we become aware of the enemies strategies and find some solutions, the game changes. So, it is important for us to be ever vigilant when it comes to the ways that we and our loved ones can be fleeced (a technical term).
One way that I have found to successfully battle back this phishing tide is by actually using the internet against these fraudsters. People are starting to become so savvy about not responding to internet scams that these villains are starting to resort to sending phishing letters. That’s right, ink, envelope and stamps. What can be more legitimate than holding a letter in your hand? Not so fast. This is one of the times that the proper use of the internet can be of help. I have taken to the search engines to research any phone number or email address connected to emails or letters asking for personal information. More times than not I can find the answers I seek by reviewing what others have reported.
Yet, sometimes even this technique can be called into question. A friend recently gave me a letter which seemed like it had been sent to him by a credit card company. He had this particular credit card but hadn’t used it in a few years. The letter seemed official, but I went to the trusty internet search engines and found people complaining about the phone number to which my friend was asked to respond. While talking with my brother about it the next day, he immediately went to the company’s official website and found the number in question listed.
Upon further review, I found out that scammers are going to the online consumer complaint sites and filling them with posts stating that the correct phone number is the scam and that, in fact, readers should call another number posted. Their number. How very helpful.
So, if it is a war between us and those that would hurt our loved ones. Game on. As any good field general will tell you, it is incumbent upon us to stay in touch with the experts in the field and quickly learn to adjust our strategies, as needed.
Here are some comments from fellow caregivers:
As the caretaker of both parents, l became aware of "excessive" phone call scam schemes very early. To counteract them l had my parents calls forward to me after one parent was about to give out information. Now when my voice is heard on the line they hang up on their end robbing me the pleasure of conversation.
Quite often the initial voice on a scam call is in very understandable English. If I punch the number to talk to someone, most often I will get someone with a foreign accent that I am very familiar with.
Sometimes called ID shows a name who I know but it is a scammer using that number. I question any "charity" call when they want my credit card information. I told one "police" charity I would make a donation but only by check. I initially wrote the check but before mailing it, I went and got a money order instead. Then they bugged me for not making good on my promise. They did this until I firmly told them I had sent in in by mail order because I didn't want them to have my bank information.
This is a war that, as caregivers, we cannot afford to lose.
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