How to Protect Older People from Becoming the Victims of a Scam

I was taught to always respect my elders, but unfortunately, there are people in this world who do not feel the same way. Do you know if your older friends and family members are safe from becoming the victims of scams?

Earn the person's trust. In order to help an older person protect themselves from fraud and scams, they first have to trust you and be willing to cooperate with the advice that you give them. If someone is reluctant to comply, do not let it upset you and do not become impatient with them. Tell them that you are just trying to look out for their best interest. Some people are independent and are offended when other people try to offer them help. Respect their wishes.

Identify their vulnerable areas. If they do trust you and they do want your help, the first place to start is in their home. There are four areas of concern that many people leave vulnerable; their mail, their phone, their computer, and the doors to their home. Each one has the potential for scammers to gain entry and wreak havoc.

Make the person's mail more secure. Purchase a mailbox with a locking mechanism and key so that the mail delivered to them is safe and cannot be removed by anyone else. Check with their local post office and see how close to the person's house the mailbox can be mounted. The further away from the street the box is, the safer the mail will be and it makes for a shorter walk. If possible, the person should drive outgoing mail to a mail drop box to send it, but if this is not possible, be sure they write any checks in permanent ink that cannot be washed from the check. Also they should not put outgoing mail into the mailbox until close to time for the mail carrier to pick it up. Online bill payment is a preferred method for the elderly to pay their bills if they have Internet access.

Enhance their telephone with user-friendly features. Caller ID is an important feature to help someone know who is calling. They can use this feature to avoid irritating sales people and scammers. Visit the website for the "Do Not Call Registry" and add their number. A mobile phone may actually be a good alternative to a land-line phone for the older crowd because it can be placed in their pocket and taken wherever they go. If the person is hearing impaired, the vibrate feature of the mobile phone can help them to know when someone is calling. Also, they can use text messages to communicate if they are unable to speak. Mobile phones typically include Caller ID and the phone number is usually harder for scammers to acquire. If they do invest in a mobile phone or if you buy one for them, instruct them not to give the number to anyone. Another good rule of thumb is to have the attitude that "If I didn't call someone, then I probably don't want what they have to offer." Be sure that the person you are assisting knows to never give personal information to someone over-the-phone unless they are sure that person is legitimate.

Upgrade and secure their computer. If the older person owns a computer with Internet access, there are several precautions to take. They should have a good antivirus package as well as a firewall, email spam program, and a phishing filter for web sites. Many of these tools are included with certain operating systems. Verify that they are equipped and functioning. Have a training session with the older person and discuss with them the techniques that scammers use to try to get information from people. Show them a few example emails and be sure they are able to identify threats for themselves. If they cannot, ask that they forward suspicious emails or web sites to you.

Secure all entry ways into the home with deadbolt locks and either a peephole or a security camera so that the occupant will always know who is knocking at their door. When strangers come to the door, instruct the person to ignore them unless they know them. No matter what the visitor says, tell them not to be intimidated and to call the police if the person persists. Securing all entrances will help them to avoid pushy salespeople who have no business bothering the elderly to begin with.

Install a set of photoelectric sensors across the person's driveway and connect the output to a buzzer or bell inside the home. This will let the person know they have a visitor well in advance of the person standing at their door and give the older person time to prepare.


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How to Protect Your Company from Fraud and Scams

Stressful times often bring out the worst in people. People who are desperate to support their family may make bad decisions and turn to crime as a solution. And then there’s the usual cast of thieves and scammers who do things like that on a daily basis. It’s unfortunate, but many businesses will become the target of crime this year. As a business owner or employee it is in your best interest not to leave your company unprotected.

Protect your company from the dangers of new technology. As technology provides the business world with new opportunities, it also opens the door for new threats. It's not enough to rely on the security measures of yesterday to protect your computers and sensitive data. If you do not have a properly configured firewall isolating your computer network from the Internet, then you might as well hook up a networked computer in the parking lot for anyone to use. Employee training and good communication about threats is also important. Employees can open the door from within the company network and unleash all manner of evil upon you if they are not closely monitored and educated. Spend the time and money to hire an IT professional or train someone within your company to perform in that role.

Use physical security measures on your building. How secure is the building where you work? Are there monitored security cameras? Locked gates and doors? Keypad entry protection? These are not really options but rather necessities unless you work hundreds of miles from civilization. Companies should keep all doors locked to keep intruders out. Special measures should be used to keep sensitive information and company equipment from leaving the premises as well. All important company documents should be destroyed instead of just thrown away. Familiarize yourself with different types of fraud, like check washing, and identity theft.

Hire a good attorney. Another key protection is to have a good legal representation in place to assist with legal decisions. Don't trust your skills with searching the Internet to know the right decision to make. Know exactly what the law entitles you before you go in any new direction and keep your company from being the target of frivolous lawsuits. Also, educate each employee as to the level of authority they have and do not let them make decisions for you, especially when they are dealing with an unknown caller. Monitor all bills, especially from utility companies, who under law can now allow third-party billing by other companies in most states.

Stay vigilant. As strict and tedious as this all sounds, it is in the best interest of your employees and the company as a whole. Good prevention keeps your company from having to apologize for stupid mistakes later.



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