Comments on: Senior Scams http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mastriani http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4188 Mastriani Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:40:18 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4188 My parents are boomers turned seniors. More than a few times I've had to snatch the phone from my mother and exhibit my "Sicilian personality" to dissuade a telemarketscumbag that she doesn't need another subscription/termite inspection/lawn care company/credit card. Hell, these aren't even scams but they'll surely take advantage of an older person if the opportunity presents itself; and yes, the know exactly what the fuck they are doing. Some old world values towards our social elders would go a long way. This is a great article by the way, this type of information on "slight of technological hand" definitely needs to become more ubiquitous. Well done. Rock that Skeptologist series. My parents are boomers turned seniors.

More than a few times I’ve had to snatch the phone from my mother and exhibit my “Sicilian personality” to dissuade a telemarketscumbag that she doesn’t need another subscription/termite inspection/lawn care company/credit card.

Hell, these aren’t even scams but they’ll surely take advantage of an older person if the opportunity presents itself; and yes, the know exactly what the fuck they are doing.

Some old world values towards our social elders would go a long way.

This is a great article by the way, this type of information on “slight of technological hand” definitely needs to become more ubiquitous. Well done.

Rock that Skeptologist series.

]]> By: Brandon http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4137 Brandon Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:02:47 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4137 #4, John, the sentence is ambiguous. It could also be interpreted to mean, "it probably isn't true." In any case, I'm sure readers will know what he means. #4, John, the sentence is ambiguous. It could also be interpreted to mean, “it probably isn’t true.” In any case, I’m sure readers will know what he means.

]]> By: John http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4122 John Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:23:02 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4122 Addendum to my previous post showing the commonly used saying is "If something is too good to be true, then it probably is." (not "isn't") http://www.answers.com/topic/if-something-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1O90-IfsmthngSNDStgdtbtrtprbbl.html http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2009/2-11-09/fraud-facts.asp ...among many others if you google the phrase. Addendum to my previous post showing the commonly used saying is “If something is too good to be true, then it probably is.” (not “isn’t”)

http://www.answers.com/topic/if-something-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1O90-IfsmthngSNDStgdtbtrtprbbl.html
http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2009/2-11-09/fraud-facts.asp

…among many others if you google the phrase.

]]> By: John http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4120 John Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:18:38 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4120 "You don’t need to be psychic or a nuclear physicist to know that if something looks (or sounds) too good to be true, it probably isn’t." Don't you mean "it probably IS". (It probably IS too good to be true.) “You don’t need to be psychic or a nuclear physicist to know that if something looks (or sounds) too good to be true, it probably isn’t.”

Don’t you mean “it probably IS”. (It probably IS too good to be true.)

]]> By: Skepdude http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4119 Skepdude Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:20:21 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4119 Speaking of The Skeptologists, any news??? Speaking of The Skeptologists, any news???

]]> By: tmac57 http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4116 tmac57 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:20:35 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4116 Another 'softer' type of hazard that befalls many elderly is the prevalence of mail order catalogs and "as seen on TV" ads. Many seniors that have poor judgment due to failing mental health will order inordinate amounts of items through the mail. Things that they don't want need or afford. My mother spent thousands of dollars on things that she never opened, and didn't even remember ordering. Once you get on their mailing list the person will be bombarded with ever increasing amounts of junk solicitations . Also you need to keep a close eye on any person hired to assist an elderly person. Even in an accredited assisted living facility, I had more that one aide try to scam my mother for money, and a maid bilked her out of over $ 10,000 before we got wind of what was going on. I know from experience that my story is a very common one, and children of an elderly person need to be proactive to prevent these kind of things from happening to their loved ones. Another ‘softer’ type of hazard that befalls many elderly is the prevalence of mail order catalogs and “as seen on TV” ads. Many seniors that have poor judgment due to failing mental health will order inordinate amounts of items through the mail. Things that they don’t want need or afford. My mother spent thousands of dollars on things that she never opened, and didn’t even remember ordering. Once you get on their mailing list the person will be bombarded with ever increasing amounts of junk solicitations .
Also you need to keep a close eye on any person hired to assist an elderly person. Even in an accredited assisted living facility, I had more that one aide try to scam my mother for money, and a maid bilked her out of over $ 10,000 before we got wind of what was going on.
I know from experience that my story is a very common one, and children of an elderly person need to be proactive to prevent these kind of things from happening to their loved ones.

]]> By: John Paradox http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/02/28/senior-scams/#comment-4115 John Paradox Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:29:38 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=1434#comment-4115 Since I've been laid off, I've noticed a lot of the Internet version of the old 'work at home, stuffing envelope' scams. Most say they will pay you for either taking surveys, or 'handling e-mail'. Though there MAY be legitimate telecommuting jobs, I have completely avoided any of these claims. J/P=? Since I’ve been laid off, I’ve noticed a lot of the Internet version of the old ‘work at home, stuffing envelope’ scams. Most say they will pay you for either taking surveys, or ‘handling e-mail’.
Though there MAY be legitimate telecommuting jobs, I have completely avoided any of these claims.

J/P=?

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