Pension thieving con artists failed to honor their payments (84)
Headline: Elderly Woman Praised by Police for Averting Phone Scam Attempt
In a world where phone scams targeting the elderly are becoming increasingly common and costly, a pensioner from [Location] has set an example of vigilance and caution. The pensioner, who wished to remain anonymous, recently found herself at the receiving end of a suspicious call, but her quick thinking and adherence to safety measures ensured that no harm was reported.
The pensioner, after sensing something amiss, promptly ended the call and immediately reported the incident to the local police. The police, in turn, have praised her actions, urging others to follow her example.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), older adults lost a staggering $700 million to scammers in 2024 alone. These scams often involve callers impersonating government agencies, businesses, or family members in distress, creating false crises to pressure victims into transferring money or sharing sensitive information.
To prevent falling victim to these scams, the FTC and other experts recommend several strategies. These include not answering or engaging with unknown callers, never sharing personal, financial, or account information over the phone, verifying caller identity independently, using call blocking or screening technology, being skeptical of urgent or "too good to be true" offers, talking openly with trusted family members or caregivers about unexpected calls or offers, and reporting scam calls or attempts to authorities.
In this particular case, the pensioner's son was confirmed to be safe by her daughter-in-law, and there was no harm reported during the call. The police have also advised checking with relatives before sharing data or money, and they emphasised that hospitals and authorities do not make demands for money or personal data over the phone.
This incident serves as a reminder for everyone, particularly the elderly, to stay vigilant against phone scams. By following the recommended precautions, older adults can protect themselves from many common scams that target their demographic with increasing frequency and sophistication.
[1] Federal Trade Commission. (2024). Scams Targeting Older Adults. Retrieved from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/identity-theft-scams/scams-targeting-older-adults
[2] AARP. (2024). Protect Yourself from Phone Scams. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2018/phone-scams.html
[3] Consumer Reports. (2024). How to Protect Yourself from Phone Scams. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/scams/how-to-protect-yourself-from-phone-scams/
[4] National Council on Aging. (2024). Scams and Fraud. Retrieved from https://www.ncoa.org/economic-security/money-management/scams-fraud/scams-and-fraud/
- In the face of escalating general-news issues like phone scams, personal-finance education and vigilance can potentially help prevent substantial losses, as demonstrated by the elderly woman who averted a scam attempt and the staggering $700 million in losses reported by the Federal Trade Commission in 2024.
- Reinforcing the importance of finance-related safety measures, the police, along with financial institutions and general-news outlets, consistently urge the public to stay informed, employ call blocking technology, avoid sharing sensitive information, and prioritize personal-finance protection, especially against the rising trend of crime-and-justice activities like phone scams.
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