Typical identity theft scams targeting the elderly Identity thieves target seniors over the telephone, looking to gain their trust to gain personal and financial data that can be used to commit fraud.

Why are the elderly often victims of identity theft?

Seniors are vulnerable to identity theft scams because often they are more trusting, have more savings and home equity built up, and are less likely to closely monitor their credit and financial accounts.

How can you prevent getting scammed in the elderly?

How to Protect Seniors

1. Block solicitations. Opt out of commercial mail solicitations.
2. Provide respite for a caregiver. Caregivers who are stressed financially and emotionally can sometimes steal the assets of those they are supposed to be caring for.
3. Set up safeguards at the bank.
4. Arrange for limited account oversight.

Who is the most vulnerable to identity theft?

Most Affected Groups Consumers between the ages of 40 and 69 are reporting identity theft at higher rates, suggesting a growing awareness of this crime—and vulnerability.

What age group is vulnerable to identity theft?

In 2020, the most targeted age group for identity theft were 30 to 39 year olds, among whom 306,090 cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States. The second most targeted age group were those aged 40 to 49, with 302,678 cases of identity theft reported.

What do I do if my elderly parent is being scammed?

You can report senior citizen scams to Adult Protective Services as well as your local police. Should you receive a call from someone posing as an IRS agent, or agent from another government agency, report it to that agency as well.

How can the elderly protect from identity theft?

How to Prevent Senior Identity Theft

1. Add contact information of family members, close friends, health providers or anyone who might call regularly.
2. If you don’t recognize a phone number, let it go to voicemail.
3. Don’t be afraid to hang up.
4. Remember that government agencies send letters about important information.

How can we keep seniors safe on the Internet?

10 Cybersecurity Best Practices for Older Adults

1. Create passwords and make them strong.
2. Secure access to your accounts.
3. Think before you act.
4. When in doubt, throw it out.
5. Share with care.
6. Use security software.
7. Adjust your browser safety settings.
8. Use the default firewall security protection on your computer.

What makes a person a more likely target for identity theft?

A higher level of education as well as higher income both put you more at risk for identity theft. A study by AARP shows those who have a college degree or post-graduate education are up to 10 percent more likely to be an identity theft victim than those with only some or no college education.

What do identity thieves look for?

Any of these pieces of information are fair game for identity thieves, though some are more valuable than others: SSN, date of birth, credit card numbers, driver’s license number, Social Security card, passwords and usernames, rewards account numbers, and more.

Do identity thieves get caught?

Are identity thieves ever caught? Identity theft statistics for 2020 are not available yet; however, 2006 research showed that federal authorities arrest only 0.14% of the criminals (one person in 700 identity theft suspects). In contrast, nearly 45% of violent crime and 16% of property crime suspects were arrested.

Who is responsible for identity theft?

While the individual perpetrator of identity theft could be held liable, others may have liability as well. Often, these other liable parties are those that have access to sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank or credit card information.

Who are the victims of identity theft?

Who are the victims of Identity Theft? Victims of identity theft include people of all ages, societal, educational, and economic backgrounds.

What can identity thieves do with your Social Security number?

A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don’t pay the bills, it damages your credit.