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Important Safety Message Oakdale Police Department Safety Important Safety Message Oakdale Police Department Likely Perpetrators Dear• St rangersOakdale preying Residents: on older people who may be isolated,lonely, confused, or desperate for attention. • Caregivers and persons in a position of trust who use fear or guilt to take advantage of a senior. Too• Foften,amilym eresidentsmbers with a crigetminal hooked history and by/or cona artists and scammers whose intent is toh istoryfinancially of drug abuse, exploitaddiction, them. or unemployment. It isn’t just the elderly, as anyone who has received unsolicited and suspicious phone calls, mail or email spam can attest.Signs that an Older Adult Might Thebe Oakdalein Trouble Police Department urges you to review this information and discuss• Unusual it rewithcent changesloved to ones, a person's friends, account, and especially those who may need a littleincluding extra atyphelp.ical withdrawals,This bookletnew person(s) offers information on various scams, tips to avoidadded, being or sudden exploited, repeated use and of the resources seniors' ATM to help. or credit card. If• youA large work check in written a financial to someone youinstitution, don't know. money transfer company or retail • industryA change (which in their powersells of prepaid attorney or cards the or money orders), you are in a unique beneficiarieson their insurance or investment positionaccounts. to stop a scam in progress. In fact, you may be the last person who can• Unusualstop the or unnecessary customer purchases, from suchlosing as buying a large amount of his or her assets. new golf clubs or a diamond bracelet. By• stayingUnnecessary alert, home repairs.sharing concerns, and asking questions you can help protect • yourselfBecoming and close others with a muchavoid younger financial person or harm. inappropriate person. • The senior appears confused,unkempt and afraid. • Utility, rent, mortgage, medical, or other essential bills are unpaid despite adequate income. • Caregiver will not allow others access to the senior. • Piled up sweepstakes mailings, magazine subscriptions, or "free gifts;' which means they maybe on "sucker lists." Why Scammers Target Seniors Ways to Protect Yourself � Be aware that you're at risk to strangers and those FEARS ISOLATION closest to you. / � • Do not isolate yourself - stay involved. COGNITIVE PHYSICAL DECLINE WEAKNESS • Always tell solicitors: "I never buy from or give to anyone who calls or visits me unannounced. Send ( me something in writing." LONELINESS DEPENDENCE' ON OTHERS • Always havea second line of defense atyour frontdoor, like a lockedscreen door or a security chain guard. \ J • Change your online password quarterly. VULNERABILITY TOO TRUSTING • Shredall receipts that contain your creditcard number. � • Sign up for the "Do Not Call" list at 1-888-382-1222 and the "Opt Out Mailing" list at 1-888-567-8688. Scam Facts • Use direct deposit for benefitchecks. • Obtain a credit check on yourself at least two or 1 in 5 individuals in three times each year. the U.S. is aged 60+ • Screen yourcaller ID for"private" or "unknown" ttttt callers. • Never give your credit card, banking, Social 1 in 13 older persons Security, Medicare, or other personal information ••••• will be abused, neglected, and/or over the phone unless you initiated the call. ••••• financially exploited • Be skeptical of all unsolicited offers. • Use a credit card instead of a debit card. ••• Credit cards offermore protection in terms Only 1 in 44 elder REPORT of compensation forfraudulent purchases. - financial abuse cases • is ever reported to Change your passwords online if a computer has law enforcement been infectedwith a virus. • If you are havingdifficulty keeping track of your finances,hire a reputable fiduciaryor professional Financial abuse to handle various aspects of your affairs. victims must turn to medical assistance A public guardian may be appointed conservator when their own funds by the Probate Court when no other alternatives are stolen & run out are available. Why Scammers Target Seniors Ways to Protect Yourself Likely Perpetrators Be aware that you're at risk to strangers and those � • Strangers preying on older people who may be FEARS ISOLATION closest to you. isolated,lonely, confused, or desperate for attention. / � • Do not isolate yourself - stay involved. • Caregivers and persons in a position of trust who COGNITIVE PHYSICAL use fear or guilt to take advantage of a senior. DECLINE WEAKNESS • Always tell solicitors: "I never buy from or give to • Familym embers with a criminal history and/or a anyone who calls or visits me unannounced. Send history of drug abuse,addiction, or unemployment. ( me something in writing." LONELINESS DEPENDENCE' ON OTHERS • Always havea second line of defense atyour frontdoor, like a lockedscreen door or a security chain guard. Signs that an Older Adult Might \ J • Change your online password quarterly. be in Trouble VULNERABILITY TOO TRUSTING • Shredall receipts that contain your creditcard number. • � • Sign up for the "Do Not Call" list at Unusual recent changes to a person's account, 1-888-382-1222 and the "Opt Out Mailing" including atypical withdrawals,new person(s) list at 1-888-567-8688. added, or sudden repeated use of the seniors' ATM or credit card. Scam Facts • Use direct deposit for benefitchecks. • A large check written to someone you don't know. • Obtain a credit check on yourself at least two or • A change in their power of attorney or the three times each year. 1 in 5 individuals in beneficiarieson their insurance or investment • Screen yourcaller ID for"private" or "unknown" the U.S. is aged 60+ accounts. ttttt callers. • Unusual or unnecessary purchases, such as buying • Never give your credit card, banking, Social new golf clubs or a diamond bracelet. 1 in 13 older persons Security, Medicare, or other personal information • ••••• will be abused, Unnecessary home repairs. neglected, and/or over the phone unless you initiated the call. • Becoming close with a much younger person or ••••• financially exploited • Be skeptical of all unsolicited offers. inappropriate person. • Use a credit card instead of a debit card. • The senior appears confused,unkempt and afraid. ••• Credit cards offermore protection in terms • Utility, rent, mortgage, medical, or other essential Only 1 in 44 elder REPORT of compensation forfraudulent purchases. bills are unpaid despite adequate income. - financial abuse cases • • Caregiver will not allow others access to the senior. is ever reported to Change your passwords online if a computer has • Piled up sweepstakes mailings, magazine law enforcement been infectedwith a virus. • If you are havingdifficulty keeping track of your subscriptions, or "free gifts;' which means they finances,hire a reputable fiduciaryor professional maybe on "sucker lists." Financial abuse to handle various aspects of your affairs. victims must turn to medical assistance A public guardian may be appointed conservator when their own funds by the Probate Court when no other alternatives are stolen & run out are available. Health Care/Medicare/ • Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that medical equipment Health Insurance Fraud services are free. This type of fraud mayinclude bills for services • Give your insurance/Medicare identification only never received, selling unneeded devices or services to those who provide your medical services. to beneficiaries,someone using another person's • Keep accurate recordsof all healthcare appointments. medical card for his or her own use, or a company • Know if your physician ordered equipment for you. using falseinformation to get a victim to join a plan. Health Insurance Fraud: Medicare Scams: Keep calm and ... Keep calm and ... • Protectyour Medicare numberas youd o your credit • Never sign blank insurance claim forms. card numbersand do not allow anyoneelse to use it. • Never give blanket authorization to a medical • Review your Medicare statements to be sure you provider to bill for services rendered. have in fact received the services billed. • Ask your medical providers what they will charge • Report suspicious activities to 1-800-MEDICARE and what you will be expected to pay out of pocket. • For more information and reporting fraud: • Carefully review your insurer's explanation of Visit Minnesota Department of Human Services at Benefits Statement and call your insurer and www.mn.gov/dhs provider if you havequestions. Health Care/Medicare/ • Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that medical equipment Health Insurance Fraud services are free. This type of fraud mayinclude bills for services • Give your insurance/Medicare identification only never received, selling unneeded devices or services to those who provide your medical services. to beneficiaries,someone using another person's • Keep accurate recordsof all healthcare appointments. medical card for his or her own use, or a company • Know if your physician ordered equipment for you. using falseinformation to get a victim to join a plan. Health Insurance Fraud: Medicare Scams: Keep calm and ... Keep calm and ... • Protectyour Medicare numberas youd o your credit • Never sign blank insurance claim forms. card numbersand do not allow anyoneelse to use it. • Never give blanket authorization to a medical • Review your Medicare statements to be sure you provider to bill for services rendered. have in fact received the services billed. • Ask your medical providers what they will charge • Report suspicious
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