What are some common ways to deceive the elderly?

I am sorry to hear about scams taking advantage of the trust and kindness of an elderly person.

The following are some common tricks to deceive the elderly. Please pay attention to the elderly and their families to prevent being deceived:

1. Telephone fraud: Scammers pretend to be relatives, public prosecutors or bank employees. Personnel obtained the elderly’s personal information, bank accounts, passwords, etc. through fictitious reasons. Elderly people should remain vigilant, not disclose personal information at will, and call the police promptly.

2. Fake public welfare organizations: Scammers use the banner of public welfare to solicit donations from the elderly, or defraud donations in the name of helping poor children. The elderly should ask the other party to present relevant certificates, choose to cooperate with formal public welfare organizations, and do not transfer or donate money at will.

3. Fake service personnel: Scammers pretend to be water, electricity and gas maintenance workers, couriers, etc., deliberately creating situations to make the elderly relax their vigilance. Elderly people should protect themselves by double-confirming the identity of strangers before welcoming strangers into their homes.

4. Prize-winning fraud: Scammers send false prize-winning notifications and require the elderly to pay deposits, handling fees or deposits, etc., in order to obtain the so-called prizes. Elderly people should stay rational and not easily believe these inducements.

5. Investment fraud: Scammers lure the elderly to invest with high rates of return, causing the elderly to be deceived. Elderly people should fully understand the risks before investing and choose formal financial institutions for consultation and investment.

To prevent these scams, seniors and their families can take the following steps: Educate seniors about common scams and precautions, and encourage them to stay vigilant. Instruct the elderly not to disclose personal information casually, especially bank card numbers, passwords and ID card information. Encourage the elderly to communicate closely with their families, share any suspicious situations that may arise, and seek timely help and consultation. Remind the elderly to pay more attention to online security and avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading suspicious software to avoid becoming victims of online fraud. It is emphasized that the elderly should protect their personal financial security and choose formal channels for transactions and investments. If an elderly person or family member believes that they have been defrauded, they should immediately call the police and seek help from the relevant local authorities.