- Guard your Medicare number, which is typically your Social Security number. Protect it as you would your bank and credit card information.
- Remember Medicare will NEVER call or email you requesting personal information or product offers. If you receive a call or email from someone claiming to be with Medicare that should be an immediate tip-off that you’re are dealing with a con artist.
If you hear these-or similar- “lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say “no thank you,” and hang up the telephone:
“You’ve won a free gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.
“You must act now, or the offer won’t be good.”
“You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully.
“You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone, including your family, lawyer, accountant, local better business bureau, or consumer protection agency.
“You can’t afford to miss this high-profit, no-risk offer.”Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company.
Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.
Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity.
If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true.
Always check out unfamiliar companies.
Check unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, better business bureau, state attorney general, the national fraud information center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.
Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business.
Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.
Before you give money to a charity or make an investment…
Find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.
Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question:
“What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”
Don’t pay in advance for services.
Pay services only after they are delivered.
Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you.
In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached.
Always take your time making a decision.
Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision.
Don’t pay for a “free prize”.
If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law.
Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of financial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone.
Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor.
It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer.
Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly.
Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons.
Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties.
If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance.
- Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
- Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
- Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
- Carefully review your insurer’s explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
- Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
- Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
- Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
- Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.
Shop around in advance.
Compare prices from at least two funeral homes. Remember that you can supply your own casket or urn.
Ask for a price list.
The law requires funeral homes to give you written price lists for products and services.
Avoid Temptation.
Resist pressure to buy goods and services you don’t really want or need.
Avoid emotional overspending.
It’s not necessary to have the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral to properly honor a loved one.
Recognize your rights.
Laws regarding funerals and burials vary from state to state. It’s a smart move to know which goods or services the law requires you to purchase and which are optional.
Know the Rules.
Know that embalming rules are governed by state law and that embalming is not legally required for direct cremations.
Read the Fine Print.
Carefully read all contracts and purchasing agreements before signing and make certain that all of your requirements have been put in writing.
Understand the Terms.
Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes.
Understand the Fees.
Understand the difference between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional services.
Be a Smart Shopper.
Apply the same smart shopping techniques you use for other major purchases. For example, you can cut costs by limiting the viewing to one day or one hour before the funeral (if at all), and by dressing your loved one in a favorite outfit instead of costly burial clothing.
INFOGRAPHIC: What to do if you have been scammed
It is estimated that One Million Elders lose over 2.6 Billion each year through Financial Abuse. In fact, Elders are a top target for scammers in the U.S.
So – What can you do if you or someone you love has been scammed?
Click Here to Open the Infographic in a new window.
What to do if someone you love is a victim What are the Signs & Symptoms of Elder Abuse?
At Elder Protection Center, Protect the People You Love is our number one priority. You are not alone. If you or someone you love is a victim of financial elder abuse, contact us today. Elder Protection Center is standing by for you and your loved ones – Today.
INFOGRAPHIC: Elder Financial Abuse Scams
1-in-5 people over the age of 65 will report being a victim of fraud or abuse this year.
Because older Americans have worked and saved longer than their younger counterparts, they naturally hold a much larger share of the nation’s wealth. Scammers are all too familiar with these statistics and are constantly developing new strategies to illegally take this money from the elderly. There is no limit to the imagination of a crook.
Here are a few of the most common scams:
Click Here to Open the Infographic in a new window.
How Professional Predators Target Seniors
At Elder Protection Center, Protect the People You Love is our number one priority. You are not alone. If you or someone you love is a victim of financial elder abuse, contact us today. Elder Protection Center is standing by for you and your loved ones – Today.
The Five Most Common Medicare Scams
Switching plans is a must. No!
Experts suggest that checking out your options each year is the best way to make sure you have the best plan for you. You are allowed to stay with your current plan and opt to make no changes.
Medicare is changing cards. No!
If you are approached by someone who says you need to update your information to receive your new card, you are dealing with a scam. Remember, Medicare will NEVER call or email you requesting personal information.
For you, a special price. No!
Con artists like to use time-sensitive sale pitches to scam seniors into acting quickly and not thinking about the deal. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. To shop or enroll in legitimate Medicare plans use the plan finder at www.medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE.
Health fair scams. No!
Another ploy scammers use is to offer a free gift. All you need to do is sign up with your name and Medicare number. Remember, NEVER give out your Medicare number.
Phony organizations. No!
Be alert when you receive calls from people that say they are from your doctor’s office or local health agencies. In some instances, scammers will illegally gain access to your medical information. Then, they call you with just enough details to ease your mind that they are authentic and cause you to reveal even more details, which then leads to fraud.
To report Medicare scams call 1-800 Medicare or the Office of the Inspector General at 1‑800‑HHS‑TIPS (1‑800‑447‑8477).
For free and objective Medicare assistance in Tennessee call SHIP (TN State Health Insurance Assitance Program) at 1-877-801-0044
Sources: US News and World Report
Common Medicare Scams and How to Protect Yourself
It’s important to know what to watch for during open enrollment, when the nation’s 55 million Medicare recipients have the opportunity to change their Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. In addition to the challenge of going through the many plan options, experts say Medicare open enrollment is prime time for scam artists. Here are a few tips to protect yourself.
If an insurance agent visits your home to sell or endorse any Medicare product, they are acting illegally.
Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud
At Elder Protection Center we’re here to help you and the ones you love to navigate the complexities and concerns that often come with aging.
Protect the People You Love is our number one priority. You are not alone. We’d love to hear from you. Elder Protection Center is standing by for you and your loved ones – Today.
Tips for Avoiding Healthcare Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud
At Elder Protection Center we’re here to help you and the ones you love to navigate the complexities and concerns that often come with aging.
Protect the People You Love is our number one priority. You are not alone. We’d love to hear from you. Elder Protection Center is standing by for you and your loved ones – Today.
10 Tips to Protect Against Cemetery or Funeral Scams
Most people would rather not think about funerals — whether it be their own or that of an elderly loved one. Yet knowing about funeral scams can save you and your family from added heartache during an already emotionally charged time.
In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission established the Funeral Rule, which is designed to protect consumers from funeral scams and fraud by requiring funeral providers to give adequate information about their services. Yet unscrupulous funeral-home owners continue to take undue advantage of grief striken families.
According to a 2015 survey conducted by the National Funeral Director’s Association, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial came to just over $8,500. In an effort to help you and your family from being exploited, here are 10 tips to help protect against cemetery or funeral scams:
For more information on how to avoid funeral scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s webpage, Funerals: A Consumer Guide.
At Elder Protection Center we’re here to help you and the ones you love to navigate the complexities and concerns that often come with aging.
Protect the People You Love is our number one priority. You are not alone. We’d love to hear from you. Elder Protection Center is standing by for you and your loved ones – Today.
10 Tips to Avoid Senior Identity Theft
According to the Bureau of Justice, over 3 million elderly Americans have their identity stolen by predators each year. Unfortunately, as long as there have been identity thieves, seniors have always been their preferred target. The elderly are often socially isolated, tend to be trusting and vulnerable, lonely, and may have early dementia or memory loss.
Additionally, many elderly do not check their credit reports on a regular basis, if at all, making early detection problematic.
The first time a senior or their care-provider may become aware that their identity has been stolen may be when bill collectors begin calling on charges that the predator made in their name.
