Abuse of elders & senior citizens is a very real problem that is on the rise in today’s society. Many scammers have taken advantage of the characteristics of many seniors’ lifestyle and carry out elaborate fraud schemes, leaving the seniors with great psychological damages.

But why is it that seniors are favourite targets of fraudsters & con artists? We can give you 5 reasons:

Availability

Most seniors are retired and become less mobile than before, which means they spend a lot of time around their home. Scam artists can based on this fact to find their victims as they can make fraud calls or drop by posing as a door-to-door seller.

Isolation

Seniors are often alone as their families move away or busy with their own lives. Sometimes the senior only have little or no interaction with their loved ones whatsoever. In this case, this means that seniors don’t have others to help review huge decisions, especially one regarding money.

Loneliness

Due to their isolation, seniors’ friendships can be limited, and this can make them vulnerable to that friendly cold caller who drops by the house frequently. Some scams are even perpetrated by seemingly trusted people who work to build new friendships with the senior and then prey on their vulnerabilities.

Sickness

Chronic health issues mean that many seniors have difficulty maintaining their property, and con artists know that. A senior may rely on outside sources for help fixing up their home. Unscrupulous workers can con seniors out of thousands of dollars for a job that should only cost hundreds of dollars.

Prosperity

Money is one of the most highlighted reasons for senior vulnerability. Con artists see seniors as a supply of wealth that includes homes, property, life savings, and other valuable assets.

Don’t be hesitate to contact local law enforcement if you think someone has defrauded your seniors or might be trying to do so.

If you want to know more on how to protect your seniors from scams & frauds, or need help taking care of your seniors, contact us at Home Instead Senior Care Outer East today via 03 9754 4861.

Thanks for reading through this Blog, I hope you have found it useful. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact the office.

Kind regards,

Suzanne McLoughlin
Owner of Home Instead Senior Care Outer East

P.S. We provide free Care Consultations and resource guides to support and guide families. Download your free copies from our Aged Care Resources page or Request a Free Information Pack to receive a hard copy.