Q: My grandmother sent someone money because a scam caller convinced her I was in trouble. What can be done to protect people from getting scammed?
A: According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), statistics reveal more people are falling victim to phone and online scams. One demographic particularly affected by this issue is the older adult. Older homeowners with healthy financial savings, decent credit scores – and a trusting nature – often find themselves targeted by scammers. Scammers mimic communications from loved ones, romantic partners, tech support staff, government employees, bank staff, etc. In 2022, victims of government imposter scams reported losing nearly $509 million, per the FTC.
The phone scam that targeted your grandmother is a common one which aims to put individuals into a state of crisis to protect themselves or a loved one. Someone calls posing as someone we care for or an official (police, lawyer, doctor, etc.) urgently requesting money. Scammers pressure you to act immediately and tell you to pay in a very specific way. These are all red flags! In other versions, individuals might be led to believe they’ve won a prize but must pay a small amount to gain the bigger prize or provide bank account information to collect the prize. These scams primarily use telephone to contact you, but scammers may also use email, text message, social media, or U.S. mail.
The National Center on Elder Abuse offers these tips to avoid scams:
1. Hang up the call or ignore the message. Talk to someone you trust. Call your loved one to confirm they are OK.
2. Secure your money and personal information. Do not transfer money or buy gift cards.
3. Do not click links or attachments in emails. If you are a victim of a scam, stop talking to the scammer. Notify financial institutions and safeguard accounts. Contact local law enforcement and file a police report. File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov). Report Social Security-related scams to the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (oig.ssa.gov). Report other scams to the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov). Keep financial transaction information and the record of all communications with the scammer for evidence.
Q. I changed to a Medicare Advantage Plan that began in January, but I have new costs I wasn’t expecting. Do I have to wait until October again to change?
A. If you changed from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another, during the October 15 to December 7, 2023 Open Enrollment, you have until March 31 to switch back to Original Medicare with a drug plan, or to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Individuals can make one change during the Advantage Plan Open Enrollment period of January 1 to March 31 each year.
We’ve taken a couple calls recently here at Area Agency on Aging from individuals who have lost their paid transportation, their paid caregiver, or had to change physicians due to changing to a Medicare Advantage Plan. It is important to carefully compare what you might be losing in coverage to gain something else that you’ve seen advertised on TV.
These are important cost / benefit considerations that should be made before changing to new coverage. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or go online to Medicare.gov.
Region IV Area Agency on Aging (RIVAAA) and the Michigan Medicare Assistance Program (MMAP) can also help. Contact a certified MMAP Counselor: 1-800-803-7174; info@areaagencyonaging.org
Sara Duris is community information liaison of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.