Was your elderly loved one recently the victim of a scam? If so, what are they going to do about it? This might be something that you and your elderly loved one are wondering. The truth is that what needs to be done about this will depend a lot on what kind of scam it was. With that being said, you should get to the bottom of it right way. The longer your elderly loved one waits to do something about the scam, the less that can be done about it.
Government Identity Theft
One of the types of scams that might occur is government identity theft. This happens when someone shares your elderly loved one’s information with the IRS or other government agencies. For instance, the scammer might file an income tax return for themselves in your loved one’s name. They would use your loved one’s information to file the taxes. Then, when your elderly loved one tries to file their taxes, they aren’t able to do so. If this happens, your elderly loved one should contact the local police station. They should also contact the credit reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or the IRS.
Criminal Identity Theft
Your elderly loved one might also be the victim of criminal identity theft. If your elderly loved one finds out that they have a warrant on them for something that they did not do, this is usually because the criminal gave our your loved one’s information when they got into trouble. Basically, that person pretended to be your loved one. If this has happened, your elderly loved one should contact the local police or the police the area where the warrant is held. The police should be able to help your elderly loved one take care of this issue.
Medical Identity Theft
If someone takes your elderly loved one’s identity, they might use it to see a doctor or go to a hospital. If your elderly loved one gets medical bills in their name for services that they did not use, this could be a sign that they have been scammed. If this is the case, you or one of the home care providers can help your elderly loved one contact the medical facility. From there, things should be able to be solved.
Conclusion
It is important that your elderly loved one knows that people can scam them. Talk to your elderly loved one about the different types of scams and what might happen. Let them know that if they see any suspicious activity in their accounts, mail, emails, or by phone calls that they should let you or their home care provider know about it. From there, you can help them to find a solution.
If you or an aging loved one needs home care services near Fair Oaks, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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