Community Chat

[Cats3000]

@luvmybeetleI am a senior citizen and you are wrong.  Scammers target senior citizens because many of them are trusting of others or may not be possession of full faculties and their children fail to check on them.  The government has warned us to be especially alert.

Yes, the call most likely was a scam because the IRS doesn't call anyone; they send notices and letters  I have received calls and e-mail messages that I ignore or just trash for the same reason; I don't recognize the sender and consider them trash.

[CalminHeart]

It's not an insult to reference seniors. 

My dad has a PhD and is the smartest man I know. But he's in his mid 90s and beginning to have typical aging issues. That's why seniors are targeted. 

He got pulled into a scam call once and I was lucky enough to catch it before it went too far. Now he doesn't take any scam calls. 

I'm a senior and who knows how my mind will be in another 20 years, if I'm lucky enough to be alive. 

[rms1954]

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@luvmybeetle wrote:

First of all thank you for the warning.  BUT, I resent the fact that you think a senior citizen will most likely fall for this.  I am a senior citizen and I would not fall for this scam.  I have received many, many calls from scammers and have never fallen for any.  But, I do know a few young people who would.  I'm old, not stupid.

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Could you resent this well-known fact because you worry about aging?

[Estellee]

That's unreal, rarely do these people  get caught 

[zitawins]

I probably fit the "senior" designation, although I detest the term. Yesterday, I spent two hours with the good folks at Microsoft because I had the dreaded Windows Defender hack on my computer. They locked my PC and indicated I should call the Windows support phone #.

Needless to say, I didn't call it. I'm savvy enough for that. My PC has a separate  Microsoft posting for news, weather, etc. and one of the links I clicked on must have contained the virus. No more catching up on news that way!

I would never call those scam numbers; I check with the website first (banks, credit cards, and so forth). That's why I do not click any links from posters on the Forum, too. Never know where the hackers will strike.

[MamaWick]

Many of us are indeed smart enough not to fall for these scams TODAY, but tomorrow or next week, there is no guarantee we won't. 

[Tinkrbl44]

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@luvmybeetle wrote:

First of all thank you for the warning.  BUT, I resent the fact that you think a senior citizen will most likely fall for this.  I am a senior citizen and I would not fall for this scam.  I have received many, many calls from scammers and have never fallen for any.  But, I do know a few young people who would.  I'm old, not stupid.

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@luvmybeetle 

People of all ages fall for scams.  Sometimes, the callers can sound very legit.  However, their goal is to find the stupid people ... of any age.  

[bonnielu]

I am a senior and I am aware we seem to be an easy target.  Not working with time on our  hands we tend to answer the phone more often.  However being a senior does not automatically make us stupid. I am a retired teacher and had to deal with all kinds of FUN for 30 years. It has been attempted but hopefully I have always gotten the last word.  Grandparent scam... I kept the guy on for over an hour pretending he was my grandson.   I guess I had nothing to do that afternoon.  How in the world can my grandson have my last name if I have all daughters.  When I finally pointed that out he hung up.  That is just one example.

My advice DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE IF THE NUMBER IS UNKNOWN.  DON'T OPEN ANY EMAIL WITHOUT USING YOUR CURSOR TO IDENTIFY THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE SO CALLED SENDER.  And never give out information if you make a mistake if contacted.  And while I am at NEVER NEVER NEVER USE THE WORD  "yes" if you ever have any conversation with a person you do not know. 

[teganslaw]

Not everyone of past generations is trusting. My father never trusted any stranger and thought that a person has to prove  themselves first. My mother didn't think highly of authority figures and had no use for certain government figures or organizations. Many times she was proven right. 

I was brought up to question things and not believe everything officials told us. Just because they are in power doesn't mean they're intelligent. I never click on suspicious links or answer numbers I don't recognize. 

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Hi  @Goodie2shoes  

Thank you for this "heads up." 

The scammers are still out there.  If there's any doubt about it, look how many *non-elderly* ppl dipped into, & scammed the PPP money that Gov't offered during COVID --  totals were millions!!. 

Money, scams never stop, it seems, Elderly targets or not.  Look at the numerous TV preachers who prey on ppl for money, thru their "desperate tears."

Years ago, my beloved, (late now) Dad was awakened in the middle of the night by someone who told him it was his daughter calling and needed money.  In his sleepiness, regardless of his age, he responded asking if this was (my name).  They said "yes, & that I was desperate for the money." 

      Fortunately, I kept in touch with my beloved Dad, very, very often. 

   The next day when I often called, he told me he's going to the bank to withdraw the money & would send it to me that day.  I asked, "Dad?   What's up?  I never called asking for money??"  It was a scam call that he almost paid, targeted in the middle of the night!

I told him, NO MONEY.  DONT EVEN GO TO THE BANK.  in case anything would happen to him at the Bank even.

Scams happens.

I had an elderly widow neighbor, whose husband just recently passed away.  Some crooks, regularly read the OBITs for Widows, Widowers, preying on their new singleness, regardless of age.  He came on strong with her that now that her husband had died, she needs extra protection!  And sold her some "Added Security."

Scams are scams.  Always have been, unfortunately, perhaps always will be, as far back as presented coercion to eating a piece of fruit from a verboten tree, & this, regardless of age.

ONE ANTIDOTE: 

Keep in touch with our beloveds!  Helps forestall scams & scammers,

   Plus, gives lotsa "lov'n" to our friends, neighbors, family & loved ones. 

   Creative scammers are out there, regardless of the target's age, & yeah, they do include scamming the elderly.  Converse  with, & keep in frequent touch is one possible antidote to these gosh darn Scammers!!