Anonymous wrote:My DH fell for this years ago. They approached him in a target parking lot and offered to fix a dent while he shopped. He gave cash and came back to a car in worse shape that the dent he started with. He’s not elderly and should have known better but oh well. He felt horrible. I’m sure your mother does, too. It feels so violating.

I fell for this as a 20 something idiot. They did somewhat repair it but it didn't look fantastic.

Anonymous wrote:My DH fell for a scam. Not this exact one.

What he fell for, made sense to him afterward. But, the reason it felt legit from the start is because he’s in a somewhat public position in his office. He also sometimes works with police as part of the job.

He got a call at his office front desk. A receptionist took it and delivered to him. He called back bc he also makes calls for work.

They got him, and every time he considered it a scam, he went back to how it started. It seemed legit to call his work and not a mobile spam thing.

So just remember, they’ll call your office too.

I don’t know why I didn’t say — he’s a doctor. Makes tons of calls back. His number and location and name is published. And has police reports because of his speciality.

He heard police called from receptionist and called back.

My DH fell for a scam. Not this exact one.

What he fell for, made sense to him afterward. But, the reason it felt legit from the start is because he’s in a somewhat public position in his office. He also sometimes works with police as part of the job.

He got a call at his office front desk. A receptionist took it and delivered to him. He called back bc he also makes calls for work.

They got him, and every time he considered it a scam, he went back to how it started. It seemed legit to call his work and not a mobile spam thing.

So just remember, they’ll call your office too.

Anonymous wrote:See if you can get your mom to adopt an “I’ll call you back” policy. You’re not asking her to figure out who’s a scammer. You’re asking her to stop whenever ANYONE contacts her instead of the other way around. Anyone legitimate (bank etc) will always be happy to let her call back. A scammer will try to stop her from delaying. But then she should also check with you or if it’s a known-to-her institution like a bank, call back from a publicly listed number.

Different poster. That might work for some scams, but "kidnapping" scams are popular and they are too scared to say "I'll call you back."

See if you can get your mom to adopt an “I’ll call you back” policy. You’re not asking her to figure out who’s a scammer. You’re asking her to stop whenever ANYONE contacts her instead of the other way around. Anyone legitimate (bank etc) will always be happy to let her call back. A scammer will try to stop her from delaying. But then she should also check with you or if it’s a known-to-her institution like a bank, call back from a publicly listed number.

Anonymous wrote:Contact AARP. They have resources and suggestions. Their scam podcast (one about a bank was so sophisticated, I would have easily fallen for it) encourages people to report scams and is very victim supportive.

One of the reasons they are perpetuated is because people are too embarrassed to report them. Get the word out.

Here's a direct link to AARP's Fraud Watch Network:
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/

I haven't heard of that one, but my friends and I are or have dealt with countless scams with those elders who insist on aging in place. Our experience has been the money is gone and not much you can do.

One thing to keep in mind that can help prevent some, but not most scams-think twice about the obituary you put online. I know people are heartbroken at the idea of not having a beautiful tribute online, but it's a goldmine of info for scammers. Also, don't put the funeral online. A scammer can watch the funeral and see how "with it" the still living parent is and see what children and grandchildren look like. So if your mom seems like she has cognitive issues and then they see you have red hair and blue eyes, they have all the more information about how to scam mom and what info to share to claim they know you.

It's hell. I will say for the parent who finally went to AL or Memory, there is more protection from some scams there, but not total. You make sure you don't have valuables there and clothing goes missing in Memory care, but at least there is no home repair scams and if someone calls and make threats the staff are on it.

I remember a recent thread about this. Search the archives.

Definitely call the police. Even better if your parent has security camera footage

*approached

That’s scary. I would be very leery if anybody apporiaxhed me in a parking lot, not to mention someone trying to sell a “service.” I wonder if this happens to me if I should try to get their business card/info and give it to the consumer affairs or police dept?

Anonymous wrote:My DH fell for this years ago. They approached him in a target parking lot and offered to fix a dent while he shopped. He gave cash and came back to a car in worse shape that the dent he started with. He’s not elderly and should have known better but oh well. He felt horrible. I’m sure your mother does, too. It feels so violating.

Seriously? Sorry to be insulting but what turnip truck did he fall off?

Anonymous wrote:My DH fell for this years ago. They approached him in a target parking lot and offered to fix a dent while he shopped. He gave cash and came back to a car in worse shape that the dent he started with. He’s not elderly and should have known better but oh well. He felt horrible. I’m sure your mother does, too. It feels so violating.

Same, but my DH is not very street smart.

Contact AARP. They have resources and suggestions. Their scam podcast (one about a bank was so sophisticated, I would have easily fallen for it) encourages people to report scams and is very victim supportive.

One of the reasons they are perpetuated is because people are too embarrassed to report them. Get the word out.