As there seems to be a special day for everything in our world, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, 2023. Isn’t this an important topic every day? Not like National Doughnut Day or World Pizza Day, awareness about this topic matters…to families, caregivers and the elderly in particular without regard for an actual day. It is great to promote awareness with a specific day, but Heartland would actually like to share information that will matter on June 15th and beyond!
As a community bank, Heartland is taking proactive steps to detect and prevent financial fraud against older clients through routine associate training, website articles, social media posts and up-to-date technology. Not only are client protection and fraud identification priorities, Heartland associates care about their clients on a personal level and work daily to ensure that their financial security is not an afterthought.
Elderly clients usually have a lifetime of savings and investments to protect. This makes them likely targets of criminals and cyber attackers. They are also very trusting and are usually very polite and unwilling to simply hang up on callers or tell them no directly. A door can then be opened by a scammer and an unsuspecting elderly adult walks right thorough in a matter of minutes.
Consider these steps:
- Secure private information in a safety deposit box
- Check bank statements and bills routinely
- Do not share personal information
- Plan ahead with legal authority for a trusted person
- Contact local adult protective services or law enforcement if you suspect fraud or elder financial abuse
- Call us if you have any questions
Ultimately, we all need to be aware and informed…too much information is never too much when fraud is the topic.
Remember:
- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- When giving to a charity, go directly to the source.
- Fake accidents are used by con artists – be cautious.
- Scams will center around the latest tragedies. Check out consumer.ftc.gov/scams.
Heartland is here for you. Check out more information from Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation. Give us a call, visit our website or stop in to your local branch if you have any questions or just want to verify that your financial world is safe and sound!