You discover that your elderly parent or grandparent is being scammed and you don’t know what to say. The painful reality is that they may not want to hear what you have to say. Elder scams have thrived because scam artists use advanced psychological tactics and skilled negotiation to exploit older adults.
A lonely woman in her late 60s is the target of an online scam by man who shows great interest in her. He lives overseas but promises to visit her if she sends him the money he needs. She sends the money, but he is never able to get away. She is impervious to the efforts of others, even her pastor, to consider that it’s a scam. What do you do?
Perhaps the first step is to connect with the victim. Proceed as though the scam is real and ask simple questions to elicit real information.
- How long have you been talking? When can I meet him?
- Where does he live? Where does he work?
Find out what you can. Be patient and ask questions in ways that aren’t insulting or condescending. Second, try to help them see the truth. Knowledge is power and the internet has an array of articles on the harsh realities of elder scams. Look for similar documented scenarios to create those “aha moments.” Sometimes, the evil truths regarding elder scams are better served from what the older generation might consider a trusted or reliable source, i.e. The FTC, AARP, or Social Security.
Lastly, if the line of communication is still open regarding their assets, team up with them to put safeguards in place at their financial institutions for secondary approvals of large withdrawals.
