Scams and the elderly

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  • prntrfxr
    Service Manager

    1,000+ Posts
    • Apr 2008
    • 1627

    #1

    Scams and the elderly

    I think people who target the elderly to take their money should be lined up and shot. Most elderly people in the US are not rich. They live on a fixed income an I think people who try to do such things have no conscience and may God help you if I ever get my hands on you.

    Someone called my elderly father and said he was an employee of a security company used by Bank of America. He said someone created a dummy website using my dad's information and that he needed my dad's routing and account number to shut it down. My father doesn't know anything about websites or other new technology and began giving him the routing number and account number. Good thing my brother happened to be there (I was at work.) and took the phone out of his hand as he was halfway through the account number. When my brother asked the guy on the phone who he was, the crook asked him if he was (dad's name). When my brother said no, he said he didn't have to give him any information. My brother said, "you're not speaking to my dad if I don't know who you are." The man gave a name and a company name. My brother said, "unfortunately, I have no way of verifying that information, so you're not getting any further information." The crook said, "you'll give me that information when our lawyer sends you a letter in the mail." My brother said, "good, we'll wait for the letter, then." The crook hung up. Fifteen minutes later he called up again and began to threaten my father with bad language and that he was going to go to jail.

    We had dad close his bank account, just in case, and open another one. We have also disconnected that phone number and began another phone service under a different number with a different company. What a mess to have to go through because of one...well I'd rather not finish this sentence. Those of you who have elderly parents, please relay this story and remind them to never give out info over the phone especially if the person calls you. They may sound professional and like they know what they're about and can't scare you into giving up information. Protect your family guys.
    Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Coke in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!".
  • JR2ALTA
    Service Manager

    Site Contributor
    1,000+ Posts
    • Feb 2010
    • 2030

    #2
    Re: Scams and the elderly

    It's funny how many times us regular folk wish people would be lined up and shot. And we wouldn't lose a wink of sleep either. Unfortunately, we give the crooks a lawyer and we just get the bill.

    Comment

    • fixthecopier
      ALIEN OVERLORD

      2,500+ Posts
      • Apr 2008
      • 4714

      #3
      Re: Scams and the elderly

      Wow, exactly the second I finished reading your story, I got a text saying I could get $1500 deposited in my account by tomorrow if I take a few seconds and fill owt an easy form. It came just in time, i can really use the money.
      The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen Hawking

      Comment

      • nmfaxman
        Service Manager

        Site Contributor
        1,000+ Posts
        • Feb 2008
        • 1702

        #4
        Re: Scams and the elderly

        Did you get the phone # of this crook?
        Caller ID or company name?
        I tend to google phone numbers to see if it is a scam before I even answer the phone, especially if it is long distance.
        I have had to train my Mom on these kind of scams along with E-mail scams.
        I recommend printing out some scam alert messages from the internet and your state's DA's office for them to read.
        A bank or lawyer will send a letter first before they start with the harsh phone calls.
        Why do they call it common sense?

        If it were common, wouldn't everyone have it?

        Comment

        • blackcat4866
          Master Of The Obvious

          Site Contributor
          10,000+ Posts
          • Jul 2007
          • 22997

          #5
          Re: Scams and the elderly

          It was about 10 years ago, that my mother-in-law asked us to help manage her money. She had a power-of-attorney written up, and we had the bills forwarded to us.

          The amount of debt wasn't as bad as I imagined. The only really unpleasant debtor was Figis.

          Figis? The dollar store junk in a catalog? Yes that's the one. And the problem wasn't excessive buying. The problem was that they strongly encouraged her to use their stupid credit at 29% annually! And when the bills came they didn't even bill for the whole amount of the principal, so the debt grew astronomically.

          We called Figis. We asked them nicely if they would stop the line of credit. They said no, she can charge anything she wants. No problem (I say) but I'm writing the checks, and you get nothing until the credit is closed, and the catalogs stop arriving. There is a lot of transferring of phones, a lot of whining, the they say OK they'll close the credit, but the catalogs are scheduled 8 weeks in advance. No problem (I say). I'll just hold onto the first check until the catalogs stop. More transferring of phones. More whining, then OK we can have them stopped by next week.

          They're a bunch of sharks taking advantage of the elderly. =^..^=
          If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
          1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
          2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
          3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
          4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
          5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

          blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

          Comment

          • Ianizer
            Trusted Tech

            250+ Posts
            • Jul 2011
            • 380

            #6
            Re: Scams and the elderly

            Any scammer preying on the unsuspecting is worthy of ruthless and unyielding justice.
            -I
            My name Peggy.
            You got problem?

            Comment

            • kingarthur
              Service Manager

              1,000+ Posts
              • Feb 2008
              • 1325

              #7
              Re: Scams and the elderly

              my wife had a call from someone last week to say there was a problem with her bank account, to be sure that she was the right person they were calling, they told her the first 4 digits on her bank card & asked her to provide the rest, when she wouldn't they got nasty & started to threaten her, she was even passed to the "supervisor" who threatened her. when she was telling me about it later, she couldn't understand how they knew the first 4 digits, so i told her what they were without looking at her card, my bank is the same as hers, so the first 4 numbers are the same as are all the cards issued by that bank
              Tip for the day; Treat every problem as your dog would.....If you cant eat it or f*ck it....then p*ss on it & walk away...

              Comment

              • prntrfxr
                Service Manager

                1,000+ Posts
                • Apr 2008
                • 1627

                #8
                Re: Scams and the elderly

                Did you get the phone # of this crook?
                The phone number was unlisted. Which should have been a dead giveaway, but when you're not expecting such behavior and they sound legit. I mean, just like kingarthur's story, you have a bit of doubt but it sounds so serious that you almost believe them. For the elderly, that distinction is more difficult to make. Not that they are stupid, but they are more honest and sincerely don't expect anyone to do something like that.

                It's funny how many times us regular folk wish people would be lined up and shot. And we wouldn't lose a wink of sleep either. Unfortunately, we give the crooks a lawyer and we just get the bill.
                I don't know that I would literally line him up and shoot him, but it does make you really mad that there are people with absolutely no conscience in the world. We all know they exist, but when it touches you personally you take it personally.
                Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Coke in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!".

                Comment

                • Lasersupplies
                  Trusted Tech
                  • Jul 2011
                  • 221

                  #9
                  Re: Scams and the elderly

                  Elderly people are not technological minded. The scam artist Knew this. Why not have your father appoint you or your brothers mobiles as a main point of contact?
                  Oh I don't really handle any of that but here's a contact number of the person who does. We have that system working at home for my mother. Two advantages. The call becomes short and sweet. Scam artists and sales reps don't like phoning mobiles.

                  Comment

                  • Ianizer
                    Trusted Tech

                    250+ Posts
                    • Jul 2011
                    • 380

                    #10
                    My name Peggy.
                    You got problem?

                    Comment

                    • prntrfxr
                      Service Manager

                      1,000+ Posts
                      • Apr 2008
                      • 1627

                      #11
                      Re: Scams and the elderly

                      We no longer have a landline. Everything is on cell phone right now. He's mad at himself about it, but the truth is if you are not alert to every single call and think about what people are saying to you it can happen to you. You generally trust when the bank calls you, don't you? If someone is advising you of a scam involving your account, wouldn't it freak you out enough to want to help someone who promises to stop it? Anyone can make this mistake, it can happen to anyone. The elderly are especially vulnerable, that is what makes this problem sad, and me mad.
                      Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Coke in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!".

                      Comment

                      • fixthecopier
                        ALIEN OVERLORD

                        2,500+ Posts
                        • Apr 2008
                        • 4714

                        #12
                        Re: Scams and the elderly

                        it was a sad day when I found out that I did not have any relatives in Nigeria who left me a large sum of money. My mom is pretty smart and when the scammers call her, she just keeps pushing the # button over and over until they hang up.
                        The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen Hawking

                        Comment

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