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To Avoid Scammers Be Wary of the Phone
While scams keep changing, the targets stay the same. Seniors continue to be the marks of a variety of low-risk crimes that prey on their sense of duty and exploit their fear of cognitive loss. We advise seniors, to avoid scammers, be wary of the phone.
FTC Data Tells The Story
The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection logged 1.5 million consumer fraud complaints in 2018, with over $1.6 billion lost; Consumers who said they were 60 and older (older adults) filed 256,404 fraud reports with reported losses of nearly $400 million.
Retirees make ripe targets because they have access to cash via retirement savings and equity in their homes.
What To Do
Here is what to do to avoid being targeted:
- Ditch the landline. Phone scams continue to be a tremendous problem for consumers of all ages. Older adults reported that a phone call was the initial contact method in numbers four times higher than all other contact methods combined. One reason seniors are targeted is because they still use landlines—so they’re easy to find through commercially sold phone lists—and they often answer their phones.
- Sign up for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network alerts and check its online map. This will help you keep up-to-date on the scams happening where you live, as scammers frequently change the areas they’re targeting.
Aging Fraud Hotline
- Call the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Fraud Hotline. If you suspect someone is a victim of fraud, call the hotline (855-303-9470) where fraud investigators can offer advice about how to proceed.
- Hang up. Whether it’s a purported relative imploring you to send money right away or a sweepstakes requiring you to pay taxes in advance—two common scams—say you’ll call back. Then research the situation. If the caller is putting pressure on you to pay immediately, it’s a scam.
- Frequently check the Security and Fraud Center at MidOregon.com. This gives you up-to-date articles about the latest in scams and prevention, and well as a tips and articles about becoming and staying safe and secure.
Pay it Forward: Alyce Hatch Center
Roger Singer, board member of the Alyce Hatch Center in Bend, along with a few other board members, nominated the center to be November’s Pay it Forward winner. KTVZ surprised them Wednesday with $500, courtesy of Mid Oregon Credit Union and CoEnergy Propane.
Jennifer Faircloth, an occupational therapist at the center, said they will use the $500 to buy a second “squeeze machine” for the center’s La Pine location. The machine acts like a massage, with the ultimate goal of making kids who don’t like human touch react more positively to it.
Every day, about 350 kids with developmental delays, from newborn to age 5, come to the Alice Hatch Center to learn, in the hope they’ll develop the tools they need to thrive in a traditional classroom.
KTVZ Pay It Forward information
KTVZ Pay It Forward Nominating Form
To see more Pay It Forward stories, click here.
Enjoy Safe Holiday Shopping
Just as you would exercise caution with your wallet and belongings in a crowded store, Mid Oregon Credit Union reminds you to be alert with your plastic cards – online or in a store. We want you to enjoy safe holiday shopping. Thieves know that the holiday season is a busy time with all the shopping, decorating, and entertaining- so be extra alert – there are a lot of ways thieves may try to take advantage of you to get your sensitive information.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind for safe and secure holiday shopping:
Review Your Purchases
1. Always monitor credit and debit card account charges and contact your financial institution immediately if anything looks unusual or even causes you to pause. Mid Oregon Online Banking provides security tools as an extra layer of protection. You can set up Account Alerts, check your balances, print statements, change your security PIN, and more.
2. When shopping online, check to make sure the site is verified and the URL begins with https://. Treat public hot spots like the transparent environment they really are. Only shop from your home computer with a private Wi-Fi connection. And finally, don’t ever store your card information on a retail site – it may be convenient but it’s just not safe.
Credit Cards Offer Best Protection
Credit cards offer consumers the most protection. Consider a local Visa credit card from Mid Oregon Credit Union where it can be easily monitored and where you can talk to a local person if you need assistance.
3. When you make a debit card purchase, always run your debit card as a credit. If a thief runs off with your card number, there is a time lag before the issuer pays the charge. When using your PIN, the charge essentially comes out as cash so the thief can run your account dry before you have time to react.
4. ATM safety: Check to see if the card reader has been tampered with or if there are any cameras or prying eyes watching you. If something seems odd about the machine, don’t continue and report it to your financial institution.
5. Mid Oregon Credit Union offers a notification service for credit or debit charges. If a suspicious charge is made to your card for a set amount, or any amount, they’ll contact you so that you can investigate it right away if needed.
Use Prepaid Cards
6. As an alternative, use Pre-paid Debit cards or Gift Cards and load them with the amount you want and spend only the amount you have. Cardholders can get reimbursed for stolen pre-paid cards, if you report them right away.
7. Stickley on Security keeps you informed with up-to-date security news, education, and alerts. Go to midoregon.com and hover over the “Resources” drop-down in the navigation menu, then click on “Security Alerts”.
Last but not least, don’t let holiday stress get the best of your holiday spirit. Make time to get together with family, friends, and neighbors. And think about reaching out in the spirit of the season and helping someone who’s less fortunate or lonely.