It is an unfortunate reality that seniors are much more likely to become the victims of fraud than any other age group. Seniors tend to be much more trusting and easily manipulated than younger adults. Add to this cognitive and memory challenges that make it difficult for seniors to fully comprehend many situations and you can see why elderly adults tend to be quite vulnerable to being scammed.

As the family care provider for an aging Veteran, you are likely to be concerned about your loved one and want to make sure that she is well protected from the possibility of being taken advantage of by one of the many massive, well-organized phishing scams that are going on right now. Phishing scams are described as organized ploys that manipulate people, very often seniors or those facing difficult decisions or situations such as foreclosure or the loss of a job, into giving up their financial information or even sending money directly to the scam artists. This can result in identity theft and huge financial losses. Protecting your aging loved one from these scams starts with making sure they are aware of the danger, but continues with seeking help.

Veterans home care companions can offer valuable help for senior Veterans who may become victims of fraud. These care companions are often well-versed in the signs of a potential scam and know how to diffuse the situation quickly and effectively. This can protect your loved one from being tricked into making a truly disastrous decision.

Some of the ways that home care services can help your aging loved one avoid being scammed include:

• Answering the telephone and denying anyone who is not on an approved list the opportunity to talk with her.
• Answering the door and denying anyone who is not on the approved list the opportunity to talk with her.
• Carefully going through his or her mail—without necessarily opening it—and organizing it according to security. There should be a pile for personal correspondence with familiar people, a pile for known junk mail, and a pile for suspicious pieces that she would like you to review later. This can give you the chance to read and weed out any fraudulent offers that come through the post.
• Subtly monitoring any online activity to help avoid online scams, which are extremely prevalent.
• Keeping track of any unusual packages or “certificates” your loved one gets so she can be aware of money being spent on strange expenses.

For more information on the VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit that helps senior Veterans pay for in-home care services, or if you have a general question about VA Home Care, please don’t hesitate to call Veterans Home Care at 888-314-6075