Beware of Scammers! Protect The Vulnerable Adult!
In today’s world of technology, we are constantly getting hit with advertisements on the newest gadgets, fashion trends, and the latest deals on our cell phones, email, and computers. This also means that scammers have found new and creative ways to prey on individuals who are most vulnerable. This includes people with cognitive and physical disabilities of any age, as well as older individuals who are alone. Scams are becoming more creative, preying on our fears and causing us to question whether we did something wrong. Some of the newest scams include:
- Text messages saying you haven’t paid the tolls on the highway
- Telephone calls telling you that you won the lottery but first have to pay taxes before the money can be released
- Emails saying someone you know has been kidnapped, and you have to pay a ransom.
You may be wondering, “What can I do to protect my vulnerable family member or friend?” and “How do I know if my family member or friend has been a victim of a scam?” We are here to help!
The best way to protect your loved one from scammers is to look for signs indicating they might be vulnerable. For example, is your family member or friend:
- Being self-neglectful? Such as not eating, losing weight, not taking prescriptive medications, not exercising proper hygiene habits
- Forgetting to pay their bills? Are utilities being turned off?
- Overly trusting and dependent or giving large sums of money to individuals like their neighbors, vendors, service providers (i.e., home health aide), or non-trusting family members?
- Are they telling you they have won a lottery and can collect it if they pay the taxes or send money to the caller?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, the individual could be vulnerable to scammers, so here is what you can do to help. If you are named as the Power of Attorney or Health Care Surrogate for the individual, present the Durable Power of Attorney to the financial institution to be honored and restrict the vulnerable adult’s access to finances. You may need to restrict the vulnerable adult’s access to email as well. You can request a credit report from one of the three credit reporting agencies, and after reviewing it, consider shutting off access to their credit. Partner with a Board-Certified Elder Law Attorney to help you navigate your responsibilities and guide you on protecting your loved one’s well-being and assets from being exploited.
If the individual did not designate a trusted person to make financial and medical decisions during a time of incapacity, and now the vulnerable adult lacks capacity, it may be time to discuss guardianship. A guardianship is a court-supervised proceeding where a guardian is appointed to act on behalf of an incapacitated person. Seek the guidance of a Board-Certified Elder Law Attorney to help guide you through the process. If you feel that you may be in need of guardianship, do not delay, as every day that passes can place a vulnerable person in even more danger.
As a Board-Certified Elder Law Attorney with over 30 years of experience, I specialize in guiding clients and providing creative solutions to help address these challenges that arise during the aging process. I work with clients living in Florida and I can meet with clients in person or by video conference. If you are reading this article/blog and you and your loved one don’t live in Florida, contact the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org ) to find an elder law attorney in your locale and give yourself and your family the gift of peace of mind.
