How to Protect Your Parents from Fraud

Quick summary

When it comes to scoping potential victims, experts say con artists tend to look for individuals who are home during the day to answer fraudulent telemarketing calls, retired people who are hoping for one more shot to increase their nest eggs, and those who will be too proud to admit they were "had" and report that they were victimized to the authorities.

Sound like anyone you know?

Senior citizens are widely acknowledged to be frequent targets of financial scammers. According to a recent survey by the Better Business Bureau, nearly 30 percent of all fraud victims are over the age of 65. So don't feel paranoid if you're worried that your parents may fall victim to fraud -- you're just being prudent.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the chances your parents will be victims. Here are some of the most prevalent frauds and ways to help protect your parents.

Telemarketing fraud

Telemarketing fraud is probably the most common scam of all. Shady marketers may call your parents to hawk investment schemes, vacation clubs, or sweepstakes plans, and then pressure them to sign up immediately because the offer is only good for a limited time. Often these marketers will demand some kind of up-front investment or fee to participate, which is always a red flag that the caller is not on the up-and-up.

You can warn your parents to not give out any personal information or credit card numbers, or otherwise buy anything from anyone over the phone. Some older people have a harder time hanging up on obnoxious salespeople because they don't want to be rude. If this is the case with your parents, get them a phone equipped with Caller ID so that they simply don't have to pick up unless they recognize the number of the caller. Also, make sure your parent's phone number is registered with the national Do Not Call registry, which will significantly cut down -- if not eliminate altogether -- the number of telemarketers calling their home.

Internet fraud

Whether it's a phishing scam -- e-mails designed to trick your parent into revealing personal information, including passwords to banking sites -- or the well-worn Nigerian banking frauds, the Internet is rife with scam artists looking for potential victims.

To protect your parents online, make sure they know not to give out personal information to strangers, download e-mail attachments from people they don't know, or click on links from unsolicited e-mail offers. Check to ensure that their antivirus software is installed and up to date, which will help protect them from inadvertently downloading malicious programs designed to collect personal information from their computers. And set their spam filters and Internet browser security settings to the highest levels possible.

Identity theft

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S., according to the Federal Trade Commission, so it's a good idea to be wary about thieves stealing your parent's personal information, such as their Social Security number or their bank or credit card account numbers and passwords. With this information, identity thieves can open new accounts, rack up charges on credit cards, empty bank accounts, and generally wreak havoc on your parent's bank balances and credit ratings.

One way to prevent identity theft is to sign your parents up for credit monitoring services such as Experian and Identity Guard, which will alert you or your parents to any suspicious activity in their credit file, including applications for new credit or even suspiciously large spending on any existing accounts (most major credit card companies offer similar plans). These services can catch identity thieves before they do much or any damage.

Fraudulent investment schemes and seminars

Another scam to look out for involves calls and mailers for so-called "free" investment seminars, where your parents will likely be strong-armed into signing up for some type of investment scheme, regardless of whether it actually makes sense for their personal situation. These seminars -- usually lunches and dinners at local hotels -- promise advice about retirement investing, estate planning, or some type of dubious investment, and they may require a hefty up-front fee to attend.

If your parents work with a financial planner, ask their advisor to explain to them that these seminars are usually a gigantic waste of time and money. Make sure your parents know not to invest their money in anything without getting independent third-party advice.

Many people are taken in by investment schemes brought to them by friends and neighbors who claim to have already hit it big. That's why it's important to pay attention when your parents mention new friends who know a lot about money or are great investors. Remind them not to make any investments or estate planning changes without running the numbers by their trusted financial advisors.

Stay on top of things

Perhaps the most important way to ward off con artists is to simply remain involved in your parents' day-to-day life. If you live nearby, stop by their house often to check in. Take a glance at their mail to see if they're receiving more than their share of sweepstakes offers, travel and vacation club invitations, and investment solicitations. Check their caller ID logs to find out if they're being inundated with telemarketing calls.

If there's an increase in these types of junk mail, e-mail spam, and phone offers, it may mean your parents have already fallen for some type of scheme and have been added to a marketer's database of potential victims.

Also, if they have any household help, like home health aides, make sure you meet them and are occasionally at the house when they're working. Because they often have access to sensitive personal data, household workers are occasionally the culprits when senior citizens are the victims of fraud. When hiring any employees who will have access to personal information, be sure to run a credit check or go through an agency that will run a more thorough background check.

What to do if you think your parents have been targeted

If you're suspicious of a charity or company hounding your parents, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have a record of complaints. Likewise, check with your state Attorney General to see if there are any criminal actions or complaints against the firm your parents are considering doing business with. The best place to report investment fraud is through the Securities and Exchange Commission.