• 03
  • September
    2011

Unfortunately, the elderly can be targets for the most ruthless criminals who take advantage of them and perpetrate physical abuse, scams, identity theft and financial exploitation.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs recently offered some advice for seniors on how to avoid being victims of crime or elder financial abuse. Here are some do's and don'ts for seniors.

To protect yourself from identity theft, you should never:

  • Carry your Social Security card in your purse or wallet
  • Have your Social Security number, driver's license number or other identifying information on your checks
  • Carry multiple credit cards
  • Give personal information over the telephone
  • Answer any e-mail that asks for personal information, even if the e-mail seems to be from your bank or someone you know

To further protect your financial information, you should always:

  • Remove your mail promptly from your mailbox and promptly review your bills and bank statements for unexpected charges
  • Shred or cut up any mail that could reveal your personal financial information
  • Stop your mail before going on vacation
  • Make a copy of all items in your wallet, such as your credit cards and driver's license and keep in a safe place so they are easier to replace if they are lost or stolen
  • If you shop online, only buy from merchants that have secure websites -- typically, a lock symbol appears in the bottom-right-hand corner of the web browser to signal a site is secure
  • If possible, have your checks printed with your initials only and no street address, and pick them up at the bank, if possible

If you find yourself the victim of a financial crime or exploitation, report it to local law enforcement and request a copy of the report. If your credit cards or financial information are stolen, or you believe you may be a victim of identity theft, you should also report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Next, contact your bank and all credit card companies you have cards with and ask them to place a fraud alert on your cards so that unusual spending will be noticed.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has a hotline that seniors and their family members can call if they suspect or have witnessed elder abuse. The 24-hour hotline number is 800-962-2873.

Source: Tampa Bay Online, "How to prevent elder abuse," Robert Boyer, Aug. 31, 2011